Sadiq Khan’s conviction was overturned after he was wrongly prosecuted for failing to tax a 24-year-old Nissan Micra that he said he had never owned.
While this case is one with media attention, vehicle registration fraud is far more common than you think. Criminals can use stolen personal information, forged documents or cloned number plates to falsely link a vehicle to someone who has no connection to it.
The latest figures provided to Parliament show that 9,384 people contacted the DVLA in 2025 about correspondence, fines or penalties relating to vehicles they said they did not recognise or were not responsible for.
There also appears to be growing public interest in what to do when a vehicle is cloned, with Vertu finding that Google searches for ‘car clone what to do’ have reportedly increased by 200% over the past three months.
Earlier this month it was announced a police crackdown is coming on bogus or plates
To help people understand what vehicle registration fraud can look like, Paul Walton, General Manager from Vertu Hyundai Silverlink has offered some advice, “The recent case involving Sadiq Khan highlights how vehicle registration fraud can have serious consequences for people who have no connection to the vehicle involved.
“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.
“There are several forms this type of fraud can take, including falsely registering a vehicle in another person’s name, using stolen personal information when changing the registered keeper, or ‘cloning’ a vehicle by using a legitimate registration number on another car.
“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.
“The consequences for the victim can go far beyond receiving an unexpected letter. They may face fines, enforcement action, and the stress of having to prove they were not responsible for the vehicle.
“If correspondence is sent to an incorrect address, the problem can become even more difficult to resolve, as the victim may be unaware that action is being taken against them until the situation has escalated.
“It can also create a significant administrative burden, with victims potentially having to contact the DVLA, police or other organisations, provide evidence and challenge penalties to correct the record.
“Ultimately, the 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.”
To identify and navigate registration fraud Vertu has four tips:
1. Don’t ignore unexpected letters or fines
If you receive a tax reminder, parking fine, speeding notice or other correspondence relating to a vehicle you don’t recognise, take it seriously and act as soon as possible.
Gather as much information as possible, including the registration number, make and model and the date of the alleged offence. This can help you understand what the correspondence relates to and identify any discrepancies.
Ignoring the correspondence or delaying action could allow penalties to increase or enforcement action to progress.
2. Contact the DVLA and the organisation that issued the notice
Contact the DVLA and any organisation that has sent you a notice as soon as possible.
Explain that you have no connection to the vehicle and believe your details may have been used incorrectly or fraudulently.
Ask what information they need from you, what steps they will take to investigate the issue and whether they can confirm that the matter has been recorded as disputed.
Gather any evidence showing you were not the vehicle’s owner or registered keeper at the relevant time and provide this where appropriate.
3. Be wary of requests for payment or personal information
If you receive an unexpected message asking you to pay vehicle tax, a fine or another charge, don’t feel pressured to act immediately.
Check that the correspondence is genuine and contact the relevant organisation directly using details from its official website. Avoid clicking payment links or using phone numbers provided in suspicious emails or text messages.
Never provide payment or personal information to an unverified caller or through a website you are not confident is genuine.
4. Challenge incorrect records and keep a record of the case
If a vehicle has incorrectly been linked to your name or address, make sure the relevant organisation knows that you are disputing the information and ask for the record to be reviewed and corrected.
Keep copies of letters, emails, forms and any evidence you provide, along with dates, names and reference numbers for conversations you have. This can make it easier to follow up if the issue is not resolved straight away.
If you receive further correspondence relating to the same vehicle, do not assume the issue has been resolved. Refer back to your existing case and make sure the organisation is aware that you have already disputed the vehicle’s connection to you.
