Number Plates

Has your vehicle ever been a victim of number plate cloning? If so, you can appreciate what an absolute nuisance it is. If not, it’s worth being vigilant to the crime which is on the rise in the UK. In this article explaining what to do if your number plate is cloned, we let you know who to call, how to report it, and what to do next. Read on to find out more…  What is number plate cloning? Number plate cloning is when the registration plate of your vehicle has been copied by someone else and used on another vehicle. It is a crime to clone a number plate in the UK and often the criminals in question duplicate a registration plate to commit unlawful behaviour. To clone a registration plate, the criminals will choose an almost identical make and model to match so that the crime goes unnoticed for as long as possible. A car or van with a history of no previous offences (such as parking tickets or speeding fines) will also prove the ideal vehicle for them to target.  Why do criminals clone registration plates? Often, a vehicle registration plate is cloned so that criminals can commit illegal motoring acts. This may include driving into London without paying the congestion zone charge or Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) fees, running through red lights, speeding, or parking unlawfully.  It means the police will contact the registered keeper of the vehicle from which the number plate has been duplicated, believing that they committed the crime. Usually at this point, the owner will be none the wiser until a series of fines and penalty notices are received.  The whole process makes it much harder for the police to catch the actual criminals.  How do criminals clone number plates? The internet provides an ideal source of information for criminal gangs who clone vehicle number plates. Social media especially is full of people sharing pictures of their cars and this seemingly harmless act means that lawbreakers can see the number plate, as well as the make and model of vehicle. How do I know if my number plate is cloned? Most likely the first indication you’ll have that your vehicle’s number plate has been cloned, is if you receive a speeding ticket or parking fine that you have no knowledge of. It may be that you receive a succession of these in a short space of time, which identifies your car or van as being in a location you haven’t visited within the given timeframe.       Who do I report a cloned number plate to? If you suspect your vehicle’s number plate has been cloned, then the first thing to do is return the tickets and fines to the authority that issued them. You should explain in writing that the penalties did not involve you or your vehicle. Be prepared to provide evidence to prove your whereabouts - this is where dash cams can come in very handy!  Secondly, contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to inform them that you believe your vehicle’s number plate has been cloned. They will then make a note on the record of your vehicle. Lastly, report your concerns to the police. You can report a number plate cloning crime online or by calling 101 from a mobile or landline, which is a non-emergency police telephone number.  Here are the three steps you should take if you suspect your vehicle’s registration plate is cloned: Return tickets and challenge fines Contact the DVLA Report to the police How to check if a car has been cloned If you’re buying a used car and want to check it isn’t cloned using another vehicle’s number plate, then there are a number of steps you can take: Ask for the registration number and make/model of vehicle If the vehicle is over three years old then you should also ask for an MOT test number too Access the online vehicle enquiry service via the DVLA to check that the details match what you’ve been given  You can also check online that the vehicle has an up-to-date MOT and matches the vehicle history  If you’re buying a used car from a private seller, take the time to conduct an HPI check which will provide you with a full comprehensive vehicle history report Ask for the vehicle’s service history and call the garage where work was carried out to ensure the details are correct Take time to look at the market to understand the going rate for the vehicle in question; if it’s much cheaper than similar models on the market, then this could be a red flag Always ask to see the V5C vehicle logbook and check the original details provided before purchasing a used car  Check that the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and chassis numbers are the same across all documentation  How to protect your car from number plate cloning To ensure your vehicle doesn’t become the victim of number plate cloning, there are steps to take to protect its identity, including: Never post pictures of your car or van online - this includes social media sites Check that your vehicle doesn’t already appear on any websites - if so, ask for them to be removed If possible, park your vehicle away from the main streets where it’s least likely to be spotted by criminals who clone number plates To prevent your number plate from being physically removed, invest in special anti-theft screws or a number plate protector How common is number plate cloning in the UK? The UK’s police forces estimate that up to 20% of vehicles on our roads could be driven using cloned number plates, which is a concerning figure.  Worryingly, number plate cloning is becoming increasingly common, with around 13,000 cases of registration plate duplications being reported every year. There are a number of reasons why this is happening: Because the number of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras across the country have increased, which digitally read vehicle registration plates  Because many towns and cities are introducing Clean Air Zones (CAZ) which penalise older vehicles for driving in these areas Because London’s ULEZ area is being expanded across the entire city Because number plates can be easily bought online without the need for the supplier to check a vehicle’s original documents  Because criminals want to manipulate that older vehicles appear newer to avoid the ever-increasing emission-based penalties   Stay up to speed with number plate news Did you find our cloned number plate article useful? If so, then why not explore the other number plate related articles here on the Wilsons Epsom website…   Discover how the number plate system works in the UK by reading our dedicated number plate guide. If you’re thinking of investing in a private registration plate, then check out our rules of personalised number plates blog too. Happy reading!

If you're considering purchasing a personalised number plate, then you’ll want to know where to start.  Whether you want to incorporate a family name, a nickname or memorable date, there are literally millions of personalised number plates gracing the UK’s roads.  Most are displayed on used cars, but you’ll be surprised at just how many are bought as an investment or show item and are never actually fitted to a car.  You can purchase a personalised registration for your vehicle from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) or a private broker/dealer. If you’re already in possession of a personalised number plate that isn’t in use, then you can apply to have it assigned to your vehicle.  What are the rules of displaying personalised number plates? It’s important to ensure you follow the rules when it comes to using a personalised number plate on your vehicle. These include: Displaying letters and numbers in a standardised font - italics are not allowed. Not using the bolt fixtures to alter the appearance of letters or numbers. Making sure each character measures 79mm in height and 50mm in width - the only exception being the number ‘1’ or letter ‘I’. Letters and numbers must appear in black print and the stroke of each character should be 14mm.  Spacing between each character needs to be 11mm, as with the margins around each of them.  Not using numbers that insinuate the vehicle is newer than it actually is.  Avoiding using certain letters, such as ‘Q’ which is reserved for kit cars or custom vehicles.  Not following these rules could land you with a telling off from police, a fine of up to £1,000, and even have your personalised number plate confiscated if you are caught.  What can you do to further personalise a private number plate? Whilst there are many don’ts when it comes to displaying a personalised number plate, there is also a list of can-do's when it comes to showing off a private plate. They are: Combining 3D or 4D text to help make the characters stand out.  Adding a border to your personalised number plate, as long as it isn’t reflective, distracting to other motorists, and does not come into contact with the letters or numbers. Using it as a way of marketing to promote your business or brand.   Make sure you engage with an official UK registered number plate supplier when it comes to purchasing a personalised number plate, as they will be able to ensure your choice is legal and roadworthy.  Is it time for a new or used car? If you’re looking for a new, nearly new or used car to display a personalised number plate, then you’ve come to the right place!  Here at Wilsons Epsom, we’re proud to represent 11 new car brands - Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, Hyundai, Nissan, Nismo, Peugeot, MG, Renault and Dacia - as well as stocking over 1,000 nearly new and used cars on site or online. We are the largest family-run new and used car supermarket in the South of England. Visit us in person or online to find out why thousands of customers choose us for their next new or used car.    

Car enthusiasts often look forward to March and September of each year. Why? Because it’s in these months that the latest batch of cars roll off production lines and into showrooms.  Registration plates are also subject to updates, so vehicles released from March adopt the year they’re produced in, while those produced from September 2020 onwards adopt a number in the 70s to signify a new decade (see the table below). In 2024, new car number plates will either have ‘24’ or ‘74’ printed on them.  March and September are the months in which car manufacturers typically release the latest version of the cars in their line-up. This could mean that a model is getting a major facelift or redesign, or it could be a small update to include an additional feature. For many buyers, this is the ideal time to secure a brand new vehicle. In this guide dedicated to registration plates in the UK, we explain how the number plate system works, what the reg is for 2024 and this year’s banned number plates. Read on to find out more…   UK Number Plates Explained​ The current number plate system we use in the UK was first introduced in September 2001. Registration plates are laid out to display two letters, followed by two numbers, then by another three more letters. An example of 2024 number plates might be AB24 CDE or AB74 CDE. The number on the plate refers to the year and six-month period in which the vehicle was first registered; either March to August or September to February. The age identifier changes on 1st March and 1st September every year. The table below shows how the age identifier changes over the life of the current number plate format. The March codes are easier to remember and identify because they follow the year of the registration. For example, a car that has been registered from March 2024 will have the number 24 as its age identifier. For cars registered between September and February, the code is the year (as of September) plus 50. Therefore, cars produced from September 2024 to February 2025 will have the number 74 as their age identifier. Similarly, 2025 number plates will feature 25 and 75 as their age identifiers. What do the number plate letters stand for? The first two letters are known as the ‘local memory tag’ and they show where the vehicle was registered. The first letter represents the region and the second letter represents a local DVLA office. For example, a vehicle registered in London will have a number plate starting with LA through to LY. 'Z' is only used as a random letter, never designated to a particular area code. The last three letters are chosen randomly and are allocated to a dealership when the car is registered. The random nature of these letters and specific allocation to a dealership gives each vehicle a unique identity. For a full breakdown of local memory tags and where cars were initially registered, take a look at the table below and refer to the official DVLA (Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency) Vehicle registration numbers and number plates leaflet. Registration Plate Guide From the year 2001 when the number UK number plate system was introduced, to the current 2024 registration plate and everything in between: Year 1st March - August End 1st September - February End 2001/02 51 2002/03 02 52 2003/04 03 53 2004/05 04 54 2005/06 05 55 2006/07 06 56 2007/08 07 57 2008/09 08 58 2009/10 09 59 2010/11 10 60 2011/12 11 61 2012/13 12 62 2013/14 13 63 2014/15 14 64 2015/16 15 65 2016/17 16 66 2017/18 17 67 2018/19 18 68 2019/20 19 69 2020/21 20 70 2021/22 21 71 2022/23 22 72 2023/24 23 73* 2024/25 24 74* *and so on until 55/00 Number Plate Area Codes UK The local memory tag element of a number plate allows a vehicle to be identified by the region in which it was first registered. Every area in the UK is assigned an indicator code by the DVLA, distinguished by two capital letters - these are as follows: First Letter UK Region Postal Area Memory Tag Identifier A Anglia Peterborough  Norwich Ipswich AA AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AJ AK AL AM AN AO AP AR AS AT AU AV AW AX AY B Birmingham Birmingham BA-BY C Cymru Cardiff  Swansea Bangor CA CB CC CD CE CF CG CH CJ CK CL CM CN CO  CP CR CS CT CU CV CW CX CY D Deeside to Shrewsbury Chester  Shrewsbury DA DB DC DD DE DF DG DH DJ DK  DL DM DN DO DP DR DS DT DU DV DW DX DY E Essex Chelmsford EA-EY F Forest & Fens Nottingham  Lincoln FA FB FC FD FE FF FG FH FJ FK FL FM FN FP FR FS FT FV FW FX FY G Garden of England Maidstone  Brighton GA GB GC GD GE GF GG GH GJ GK GL GM GN GO GP GR GS GT GU GV GW GX GY H Hampshire & Dorset Bournemouth Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight HA HB HC HD HE HF HG HH HJ  HK HL HM HN HO HP HR HS HT HU HV HW HX HY (HW will be used exclusively for Isle of Wight residents) K East Midlands & Hertfordshire Borehamwood Northampton KA KB KC KD KE KF KG KH KJ KK KL KM KN KO KP KR KS KT KU KV KW KX KY L London Wimbledon Sidcup LA LB LC LD LE LF LG LH LJ  LK LL LM LN LO LP LR LS LT LU LV LW LX LY M Manchester & Merseyside Manchester and the Isle of Man MA – MY (MN + MAN Reserved for the Isle of Man) N North Newcastle  Stockton NA NB NC ND NE NG NH NJ NK NL NM NN NO NP NR NS NT NU NV NW NX NY O Oxford Oxford OA-OY P Preston Preston Carlisle PA PB PC PD PE PF PG PH PJ PK PL PM PN PO PP PR PS PT  PU PV PW PX PY R Reading Theale RA-RY S Scotland Glasgow Edinburgh Dundee Aberdeen Inverness SA SB SC SD SE SF SG SH SJ SK SL SM SN SO SP SR SS ST SU SV SW SX SY V Severn Valley Worcester VA-VY W West of England Exeter Truro Bristol WA WB WC WD WE WF WG WH WJ WK WL WM WN WO WP WR WS WT WU WV WW WX WY Y Yorkshire Leeds Sheffield Beverley YA YB YC YD YE YF YG YH YJ YK YL YM YN YO YP YR YS YT YU  YV YW YX YY How often do new number plates come out? New number plates are released twice a year in the UK as standard practice on the 1st of March and September. The main reason that new number plates are released is to: 1) cater for the amount of cars and vans being produced each year to ensure there’s enough combinations of letters and numbers, and 2) to show how old a vehicle is and help make the car or van easily identifiable.   What is the new reg for 2024? In line with the year itself, 2024 introduces a ‘24’ number plate from the 1st March and a ‘74’ number plate from the 1st September. Example number plate combinations would be ‘NU24 REG’ which features on new cars registered from 1st March 2024 until the 31st August 2024, followed by ‘NU74 REG’ which features on new cars registered from 1st September 2024 until the end of February 2025.   2024 Banned UK Number Plates Of course, not all number plates follow the standard set of rules - they can also be personalised too. Check out our dedicated ‘Rules of Personalised Number Plates’ blog to understand more.  In line with personalised registration plate options, comes a whole heap of red tape too. Are you aware that the DVLA releases a list of banned number plates every year? This is usually because the letter and number combinations are too offensive and inappropriate to be used.  Let’s take 2024 for example. This year, another set of x-rated and offensive number plate combinations have been blacklisted due to their insensitive nature. It goes without saying that rude and inappropriate combinations of number plate letters and numbers are also banned - no matter how cheeky you think they may be! Nobody wants to be sat behind a driver with the number plate TE24 ROR or F24 RTS…we’ll leave the remaining banned combination to your imagination. If you opt for a personalised number plate, keep it sensible by choosing from the millions of options available via the DVLA website. Electric Vehicle Number Plates With the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads, you will no doubt have noticed that the registration plate looks slightly different to that of a standard petrol or diesel car. We often get asked the question, ‘why do number plates have green on them?’ - the simple answer being that it is to show the vehicle in question is electric. First introduced by the UK Government in 2020 to raise awareness of zero emission vehicles, electric cars are fitted with number plates that have a green ‘flash’ on the left-hand side. Dubbed ‘green number plates’, only vehicles with zero emissions at the tailpipe qualify for these. Green number plates are now fitted as standard to all new EVs, but you can request to opt for a standard registration plate instead if you prefer.     Order Your New Car From Wilsons Epsom As the largest family-run new car supermarket in the South of England, here at Wilsons in Epsom, Surrey, we proudly represent 11 new car brands…  Discover the latest models from Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, Hyundai, Nissan, Nismo, Peugeot, MG, Renault and Dacia, including our hybrid and electric vehicle offering.  We have a whole host of offers available on a selection of new models across the range. You can view our new car stock online and book a test drive at our state-of-the-art multi-franchise dealership nestled between London and the Surrey Hills. Visit us today!