Sadiq Khan's 'scam' car tax conviction could lead to 'serious consequences' for other drivers

Experts are warning that Sir Sadiq Khan's recently overturned car tax conviction should be a wake-up call to drivers across the country.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was convicted earlier this month by the DVLA for failing to pay car tax on a 24-year-old Nissan Micra.

A controversial Single Justice Procedure case ordered the Mayor to pay a fine of £220, as well as £85 in costs and to settle a £35.84 bill in unpaid tax.

City Hall officials criticised the conviction, maintaining that Sir Khan had never owned the Nissan Micra in question, nor had Transport for London.

Once the conviction was brought to light, the DVLA requested that the conviction be quashed, which was granted by a panel of magistrates at Hereford Magistrates' Court.

Reports stated that the follow-up hearing lasted just "one minute", while representatives for the DVLA and the Mayor were not in attendance.

Court documents stated that a request for information about the untaxed vehicle was wrongly sent to a Gordon Ramsey restaurant in the capital, rather than the headquarters of Transport for London.

Speaking to GB News, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: "This is a scam, which is a crime.

"It's not the first time the Mayor has been victim of a scam involving people falsely stating that Sadiq is the owner of a vehicle. Such behaviour is illegal, and the DVLA are aware."

Experts are now warning that other people could fall victim to such a scam, as criminals use stolen information or cloned number plates to link a vehicle to someone who has no connection to it.

Data suggests that almost 10,000 people contacted the DVLA last year to complain about correspondence or penalties relating to vehicles they did not recognise.

Paul Walton, general manager of Vertu Hyundai Silverlink, highlighted Sir Khan's recent case, warning that it could have "serious consequences" for motorists.

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He said: "Fraudsters can misuse someone's personal details to register or transfer a vehicle, potentially leaving the victim facing vehicle tax demands, penalty notices or even legal proceedings for a car they have never owned or driven.

"In some cases, criminals may do this to avoid responsibility for tax, parking or traffic offences, while in others it can be linked to more serious criminal activity involving a vehicle."

This has become especially prevalent with the rise in cloned number plates to evade fines for speeding and Clean Air Zones.

Mr Walton urged motorists not to avoid any unexpected letters of fines, adding that they should be taken seriously and acted upon as soon as possible.

Ignoring any unknown correspondence could lead to penalties increasing or even enforcement action taking effect.

The expert added that people should contact the DVLA, explaining that they do not have any link to the vehicle and believe that their details may have been used fraudulently.

Mr Walton said: "Ultimately, the [Sadiq Khan] case is a reminder that vehicle registration fraud is not simply a technicality or harmless prank.

"Misusing someone's details can leave an innocent person dealing with financial penalties, enforcement action and significant stress for something they had no involvement in."