Full Breakdown
Mayor of London Convicted Over Unpaid Vehicle Tax
9/2/2026, 7:47:36 AM
Conviction Details
On August 18, magistrate Surinder Gidda at Herefordshire Magistrates’ Court convicted Lord Khan of the United Kingdom in his absence for keeping an unlicensed vehicle. The court ordered a £220 fine, £85 in costs and payment of the £35.84 unpaid tax bill for a blue Nissan Micra first registered in 2002. The conviction was recorded under the Single Justice Procedure, a private, single-magistrate hearing introduced in 2015.
Background & Context
Lord Khan, a 55-year-old Labour politician who became Baron Khan of Tooting after his July appointment to the House of Lords, expanded the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to cover all of London earlier this year. The expansion sparked protests from motorists, some of whom threatened to register their cars in the mayor’s name to make him liable for the £12.50 daily Ulez charge. The Single Justice Procedure, now under government review after mass overturns of train-fare-evasion convictions and other wrongful cases, was used to process this low-level tax offence.
Official Statements & Responses
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) said the vehicle was identified as untaxed on January 24 and that Lord Khan’s name and date of birth appear on official records as the keeper. The agency added that a letter requesting confirmation of ownership went unanswered, prompting the prosecution. City Hall officials have countered that the Micra does not belong to the mayor or Transport for London (TfL), and they note that DVLA correspondence was mistakenly sent to Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen, Bar & Rooftop at 9 Endeavour Square—two minutes from TfL’s offices—rather than to TfL’s headquarters. The Press Association reported that the court also sent the conviction record to the restaurant, warning of further fines or a possible arrest warrant if the £340.84 bill is not paid within 28 days.
Data & Statistics
- Vehicle: blue Nissan Micra, registration 2002
- Unpaid tax: £35.84 (annual road-tax bill)
- Court-imposed fine: £220
- Court costs: £85
- Total court bill: £340.84 (including fine, costs and tax)
- Date of untaxed detection: January 24
- Conviction date: August 18
What’s Next
Defendants who believe they have been wrongly convicted in absentia may apply to have the case reopened by appearing before a judge and making a statutory declaration. Lord Khan could argue that he was unaware of the prosecution because the DVLA’s letters were addressed to the wrong building. If the case is reopened, he may petition the DVLA to withdraw the prosecution or enter a not-guilty plea; alternatively, the DVLA could seek a court order to reopen the case.
