London: Mayor Sadiq Khan Fined Over Unpaid Car Tax, Denies Ownership
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has been fined by a court for failing to pay tax on a 24-year-old blue Nissan Micra, registered in 2002. The vehicle’s tax lapsed in September 2025, and the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) began enforcement action after it was found untaxed on January 24.Official records listed the car…
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has been fined by a court for failing to pay tax on a 24-year-old blue Nissan Micra, registered in 2002. The vehicle’s tax lapsed in September 2025, and the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) began enforcement action after it was found untaxed on January 24.
Official records listed the car under Khan’s name and date of birth, but the mayor’s office has strongly denied ownership, calling it a case of fraud and stating the vehicle belongs neither to him nor to Transport for London (TfL). The case took an unusual turn when DVLA notices were mistakenly sent to chef Gordon Ramsay’s East London restaurant — located near, but in a separate building from, TfL’s offices — meaning Khan reportedly never received timely notice of the proceedings.
The case was handled privately under the UK’s Single Justice Procedure, with the ruling delivered in the mayor’s absence. The court ordered a £220 fine, £85 in court costs, and £35.84 in unpaid vehicle tax — a total of £340.84. The DVLA is now reviewing the circumstances, and reopening the case is reportedly under consideration. Khan may need to apply to the court to have the conviction set aside. The incident comes amid past threats from opponents of Khan’s ULEZ expansion, some of whom said they would register vehicles in his name in protest.
