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!