The British arm of the EV company - owned by Elon Musk - has been convicted at least 18 times since the start of 2024 for failing to respond to formal police requests to name drivers suspected of speeding and other offences.

Those supposed failures meant the alleged drivers could not be prosecuted, leaving Tesla Financial Services liable instead.

Under UK law, companies that lease or hire out vehicles are required to identify the driver when police issue a notice relating to a traffic offence.

If they do not respond within the required timeframe, they can be prosecuted for failing to provide information, and magistrates can impose fines of up to £1,000 per offence.

One case highlighted by the BBC involved South Wales Police, who attempted to identify the driver of a Tesla caught travelling at 80mph on the M4 in July 2025.

After correspondence went unanswered, Tesla Financial Services pleaded guilty to the charge.

Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court fined the company £1,000, alongside £120 in costs and a £400 victim surcharge.

Similar cases have been brought by police forces including the Metropolitan Police, Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police.

In one instance, a driver recorded travelling close to 100mph on the A3 in Hampshire avoided prosecution after Tesla failed to respond to repeated requests.

In another, a single driver was allegedly caught speeding three times but was never identified, preventing a potential driving ban.

In total, 17 cases have already been sentenced, with a further guilty plea entered last week ahead of sentencing at Bath Magistrates’ Court.

Fines, court costs and surcharges across the cases amount to £20,686.

Tesla has previously suggested that some responses were sent but not received, citing technical or administrative issues.

However, magistrates have still issued convictions under the single justice procedure, which handles minor offences on the papers.

Tesla has been contacted for comment.