What to do if your number plate is cloned

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:

1. Return tickets and challenge fines
2. Contact the DVLA
3. 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:

1. Because the number of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras across the country have increased, which digitally read vehicle registration plates 
2. Because many towns and cities are introducing Clean Air Zones (CAZ) which penalise older vehicles for driving in these areas
3. Because London’s ULEZ area is being expanded across the entire city
4. Because number plates can be easily bought online without the need for the supplier to check a vehicle’s original documents 
5. 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!