Multiple reports say New York City’s pied-à-terre tax scheme, associated with Zohran Mamdani, is being used to illustrate what critics describe as an “epidemic of ghost cars.” The articles contend that many vehicles displaying out-of-town or out-of-state license plates may not be owned or primarily used by real residents in the city where the cars are registered. Instead, the coverage alleges that some drivers may exploit the tax and residency rules to conceal where vehicles are actually kept or used. The reports frame the issue as a potential driver of insurance-related fraud, arguing that improperly documented vehicles can complicate underwriting, claims, and enforcement. While the accounts describe a pattern of out-of-city plates appearing locally, they do not establish a single proven mechanism or provide system-wide confirmed figures across all sources. Overall, the reporting presents the pied-à-terre tax as a lens that brings attention to compliance and enforcement challenges surrounding vehicle registration and residency, and it points to concerns that the practice could be linked to fraudulent activity. The articles emphasize the alleged nature of the “ghost car” problem rather than providing definitive conclusions.