Free Traffic Legal Advice

I woke up today to a no-reply text from Bristow & Suitor informing me I owed £590 to TfL. After calling around between TfL and B&S, I found out that it’s for a ULEZ fine dating to August 2024—but I had sold the car in July 2023.

I hadn’t received any previous correspondence about this fine because I had moved from the address where the car was registered.

It turns out that, as this was only the second car I’d ever sold, I hadn’t properly filled out the V5 when selling it, and the new owner never re-registered it in his name using the green slip. So, as far as the DVLA was concerned, I was still the registered keeper when the fines were issued.


Right now, I have two fines:

   •   £590 with Bristow & Suitor

   •   £250 still with TfL

TfL advised me to write to them, B&S, and the DVLA with proof that I had sold the vehicle and was not the driver at the time of the penalties.

The proof I have:

   •   Original V5 with the new owner’s address and details

   •   A written receipt, signed by both parties, confirming the sale on 5/08/23

   •   Text messages with the buyer confirming he didn’t receive the V5 and sold it on using only the green slip

   •   Messages on Facebook Marketplace where different people have listed the car for sale after I sold it

   •   Group chat messages with pictures of the cash, confirming I had sold it

I completely understand this is my mistake for not sending off the V5 myself. But I cannot afford £900+ in TfL charges for a car I wasn’t driving or even owned at the time.

I also understand that since the V5 was never updated, I am technically still the registered keeper when these PCNs were issued.

My Questions:

   •   Is there any way to resolve this without having to pay the fines?

   •   Can I backdate the sale, even though the latest V5 was only issued in September 2024?

   •   Has anyone successfully fought a case like this?

I’d really appreciate any advice on the best way forward!

you said

 •   Text messages with the buyer confirming he didn’t receive the V5 and sold it on using only the green slip

   •   Messages on Facebook Marketplace where different people have listed the car for sale after I sold it

   •   Group chat messages with pictures of the cash, confirming I had sold it

when did your buyer sell it on?
are you saying that more than one 'new' owner failed to register it in their name??
group chat allegedly concerning a sale between who??

£250 would be correct, but not yet escalated to bailiffs, for some other TFL enforced infringements such as a bus lane or parking on a red route etc.

You haven't mentioned a Notice of Enforcement from B&S for the ULEZ PCN so I assume you haven't had one? Just a text message from B&S. £590 indicates that the bailiff enforcement has reached the visit stage, where of course they couldn't enforce because you no longer lived at the address TFL held, and there was no vehicle to impound.

In order to continue to enforce at your new address, TFL will need to apply to the Traffic Enforcement Centre at Northampton County Court to have the warrant re-sealed with your current address. B&S will have to serve a fresh Notice of Enforcement on you giving you seven clear days to pay.

So have you given B&S and or TFL your new address as yet?

Ultimately you'll need to file an Witness Statement and Out of Time application with the TEC to the effect that you did not receive the original PCN.

You should also write to the TFL explaining that you were no longer the owner or registered keeper of the car at the time of contraventions. Supply all the proof you have that helps show that you sold the car on nn/nn2023. Ask TFL to use their discretion and not oppose your WS & OOT application and to cancel both PCNs.

Don't submit the WS and OOT without having them scrutinised on here first.