Ticket sent to wrong person: vehicle not registered
Normally, a penalty notice for a Low Emission Zone breach is sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. But if the vehicle was not registered at the time of the breach — for example it had been scrapped, cloned, or stolen — the penalty can only be charged to the person who was actually driving or keeping it then. If the authority has simply used an out-of-date DVLA record to find you, the notice has been sent to the wrong person.
Legal basis
SSI 2021/177 reg 5(2); reg 8(4)(b) and (d)
How to identify this in your case
DVLA records show vehicle not currently registered/SORN/scrapped; you receive a PCN despite not being user/keeper at contravention time.
Sample appeal wording
Dear [COUNCIL], Re: PCN [PCN_NUMBER] Representation under reg 8(1); ground reg 8(4)(b)/(d). Vehicle [VRN] was not, on the detection date, registered under s.21 VERA 1994 — it had been [scrapped on DATE / declared SORN on DATE / cloned (legitimate vehicle scrapped)]. Evidence: certificate of destruction / SORN confirmation / police crime reference. Under reg 5(2) penalty is payable by user/keeper at contravention time — not me. Please cancel. Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
Beat It writes this argument automatically
Scan your PCN — our AI checks if this ground applies to your specific ticket, drafts a properly-cited appeal letter, and submits it to the council on your behalf. Only pay if you win.
Scan my ticketSources
- SSI 2021/177 reg 5(2)
Related appeal grounds
- Aberdeen Clean Air Zone ticket issued too early
- Appealing a Scottish tribunal's legal error to a higher tribunal
- Attorney acting for keeper under Scottish power of attorney
- Bailiff acted without proper advance warning notice
- Bath CAZ — Sunset Period for Pre-Registered Commercial Vehicles
- Bay Obstructed or Too Small — Could Not Park Within the Bay Markings