TESLA has been convicted at least 18 times and ordered to pay more than £20,000 after repeatedly failing to co-operate with UK police investigations.
The British arm of Elon Musk’s electric car company has faced numerous criminal proceedings over the past two years related to alleged road traffic offences.
Tesla offers vehicles on long-term leases, which usually makes the leasing company the registered keeper of the car. When drivers of rented or company vehicles are caught speeding, they must be identified before prosecution can proceed. Firms that fail to provide this information can themselves be prosecuted.
In the past fortnight alone, nearly 4,000 defendants across England and Wales have been convicted for failing to identify drivers, with fines ranging from £1 to £1,000.
One incident involved South Wales Police seeking to identify the driver of a Tesla recorded travelling at 80mph (128km/h) on the M4 near Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in July 2025.
Court papers show that Tesla Financial Services director Becky Hodgson pleaded guilty on behalf of the company by email in late November, explaining that the firm had attempted to enter the plea online but had “encountered a technical issue on the Online Plea Service portal”.
Although the company admitted the charge, Hodgson stated that it had complied with the police request, asserting that internal procedures had been followed and the nomination had been posted.
Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court convicted Tesla on 6 January, imposing a £1,000 fine, £120 in costs, and a £400 victim surcharge.
Since the start of 2024, at least 18 convictions against Tesla Financial Services have been recorded by the Press Association, including cases brought by the Metropolitan Police, Hampshire Constabulary, and Thames Valley Police. Seventeen cases have already been sentenced, while Tesla last week pleaded guilty to failing to identify a driver in a further case, which is due to be sentenced at Bath Magistrates’ Court.
In one concluded case, a Tesla driver was caught on a speed camera travelling at nearly 100mph (160km/h) on the A3 in Petersfield, Hampshire. Because police correspondence went unanswered, the driver was not identified, and the company was fined instead.
In another instance, a Tesla driver was caught speeding on three occasions, potentially putting them at risk of disqualification if identified.
Police letters went unanswered at Tesla Financial Services offices and a service centre in London, as well as an office in Manchester. Across the identified cases, magistrates have imposed fines, costs, and court fees totalling £20,686 under the single justice procedure, which handles minor offences.
Tesla has been approached for comment. South Wales Police have also been asked for a response.
