Tesla has been fined more than £20,000 after repeatedly failing to help UK police identify drivers linked to traffic offences.
The British arm of Elon Musk’s electric car company has been convicted at least 18 times over the past two years for not responding properly to police requests under road traffic laws. The cases involve situations where Tesla vehicles, often leased through Tesla Financial Services, were caught committing offences such as speeding.
When a car is leased, the leasing firm is usually listed as the registered keeper. If a traffic offence occurs, police rely on the registered keeper to identify the driver. Companies that fail to return this information can be prosecuted instead.
In one case, South Wales Police contacted Tesla Financial Services after a car was recorded driving at 80mph on the M4 in July 2025. Court documents show a Tesla director later pleaded guilty on behalf of the company, although she said the firm believed it had followed the correct process and sent the driver details by post. The company was fined £1,000, ordered to pay £120 in costs and a £400 victim surcharge.
Press Association analysis shows at least 18 convictions against Tesla Financial Services since early 2024, involving forces including the Metropolitan Police, Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police. Seventeen of those cases have already been sentenced, with another awaiting sentencing.
In some cases, drivers who were allegedly speeding at very high speeds were never identified because police letters went unanswered. As a result, Tesla was fined instead, while the individual drivers avoided prosecution.
All cases were dealt with by magistrates under the single justice procedure for minor offences.
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