Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Sadiq Khan Challenges Conviction After Untaxed Car Misregistration
Sadiq Khan was convicted because records said he owned an untaxed car.
He says the car was never his.
Important letters about the case were sent to the wrong address.
The letters reportedly went to a London restaurant.
Because no response was received, the case went ahead without his plea.
Khan was ordered to pay a fine and other costs.
His spokesperson says someone may have falsely registered the car in his name.
The DVLA is now checking what happened and may reopen the case.
Sadiq Khan was convicted over an untaxed blue Nissan Micra he says never belonged to him.
A magistrate ordered Khan to pay £220, £85 in costs and £35.84 in unpaid tax.
Official records linked Khan’s name and birth date to the car, while case letters went to a wrong address.
The mayor’s spokesperson called the registration a scam and said the DVLA was aware.
The DVLA is reviewing the case, investigating the registration and considering an application to reopen it.
- Who
- London mayor Sadiq Khan and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are involved.
- What
- Khan was convicted over keeping an unlicensed Nissan Micra, but says the vehicle was falsely linked to him.
- When
- The car was spotted untaxed on January 24; the prosecution followed on August 18, and Khan was convicted last month.
- Where
- The prosecution was handled by a magistrate sitting privately in Herefordshire; related letters were sent to a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in east London.
- Why
- The DVLA said the vehicle’s tax had expired and its request to confirm the owner went unanswered, while Khan’s representatives say the vehicle was falsely registered in his name.
Khan’s Account
DVLA’s Account
Vehicle ownership
Khan’s Account
Khan says the Nissan Micra never belonged to him and that someone falsely registered it using his details.
DVLA’s Account
The DVLA’s records connected Khan’s name and date of birth with the vehicle.
Missed correspondence
Khan’s Account
Khan’s representatives say case letters were sent to the wrong address, including a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, so he could not respond.
DVLA’s Account
The DVLA said a letter seeking confirmation of the owner’s identity went unanswered, leading to the prosecution.
Next steps
Khan’s Account
The mayor’s adviser said the DVLA was urgently looking into reopening the case and investigating the false registration.
DVLA’s Account
The DVLA said it was reviewing the case and investigating the circumstances of the prosecution.
- Fine
- £220
- Additional costs
- £85 in costs and £35.84 in unpaid tax
- Vehicle
- Blue Nissan Micra, first registered in 2002
- Tax status
- Annual tax expired in September last year
- Date spotted untaxed
- January 24
- Prosecution date
- August 18
- Case status
- An application has been made to reopen the case and withdraw the prosecution