Number Plate Cloning — FAQ

1. What is number plate cloning?

Number plate cloning is when a criminal copies your vehicle registration number onto a set of plates and displays them on a different vehicle — usually one of the same make, model, and colour. This means any offences, fines, or charges committed by that vehicle are traced back to you, the registered keeper.

Cloning can happen in two ways:

• Physical theft: Criminals steal your actual number plates from your vehicle.
• Copying: Criminals have new plates made using your registration number, often by suppliers who bypass legal ID checks.

The intent is always the same — to use your vehicle identity to commit offences while avoiding detection themselves.

2. How common is number plate cloning in the UK?

Number plate cloning is a growing problem in the UK. Recent data shows:

• 11,394 cloned plate reports to the DVLA in 2025 alone (Source: DVLA via Daily Mail, 2026).
• Reports have increased by 41% between 2020 and 2025 (Source: Forecourt Trader / GoCompare).
• UK police forces estimate that up to 20% of vehicles on our roads could be using cloned or false number plates (Source: Wilsons Group).
• A 2025 Guardian investigation found more than 130 registered number plate suppliers willing to sell plates without the required legal checks.

3. Is number plate cloning illegal?

Yes. The UK government has confirmed that "the cloning and defacing of number plates is illegal and provides cover for criminals" (Source: BBC News, 2025). The following are all illegal:

• Stealing number plates from a vehicle
• Supplying number plates without seeing valid ID and proof of entitlement (DVLA RNPS rules)
• Displaying stolen or cloned plates on a vehicle not registered to that mark
• Selling a vehicle with cloned or false plates
• Using a cloned identity to commit fraud, evade charges, or avoid detection

If you are a victim, you should still report it — even though the crime is committed against you, the burden is on you to prove your innocence when fines arrive.

4. How do criminals clone number plates?

Criminals use several methods to clone number plates:

• Stealing physical plates: Removing plates directly from parked vehicles, often in seconds using basic tools.
• Rogue suppliers: A 2025 Guardian investigation found 130+ suppliers willing to make plates without checking ID or proof of ownership. Some sell them as "show plates" to bypass DVLA regulations.
• Online images: Criminals find photos of vehicles on social media, marketplace listings, or previous sale adverts and use the visible registration to have new plates made.
• Ghost plates: Using plates treated with reflective coatings that appear normal to the eye but are unreadable by ANPR cameras.

By law, all UK number plate suppliers must be registered with the DVLA Registered Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) scheme and verify a customer identity and entitlement before making plates. But enforcement is inconsistent.

Read the full guide: What to do if your number plates are stolen →

5. How do I know if my number plate has been cloned?

Most victims do not know they have been cloned until something goes wrong. Common warning signs include:

• Receiving fines, PCNs, or penalty notices for locations you have never visited
• Getting ULEZ, congestion, or Clean Air Zone charges for times your vehicle was not there
• Receiving court summonses or police correspondence for offences you did not commit
• Being contacted about parking charges you did not incur
• Noticing your number plates have been physically stolen
• Finding images of your car online that you did not post (especially on marketplace sites)

If you notice any of these signs, act quickly — the sooner you report it, the easier it is to dispute fines and protect yourself.

Read the full guide: What to do if someone is using your number plate →

6. What should I do if my number plate is cloned?

Take these steps as soon as you suspect cloning:

1. Report to the police — Call 101 or report online via your local force website. Get a crime reference number — you will need this for every appeal.
2. Contact the DVLA — Notify them your plate has been cloned. They can flag it and, in some cases, issue a replacement registration number.
3. Appeal every fine — Contact each fine issuer (council, TfL, private parking company) with your crime reference number and evidence that your vehicle was not there.
4. Gather evidence — Photos of your vehicle (showing distinguishing features like dents, stickers, modifications), dashcam footage, or proof you were elsewhere.
5. Notify your insurer — Let your insurance company know, as cloned plates can affect your record.
6. Check for images online — Search Facebook, AutoTrader, and marketplace sites for photos of your vehicle that could have been used by criminals.

Protect A Plate members receive instant alerts if their plate is requested by a supplier — giving you early warning before fines even arrive.

Read the full guide: What to do if someone is using your number plate →

Read the full guide: What to do if your number plates are stolen →

7. What happens with fines from a cloned plate?

If your plate is cloned, you may receive fines and charges you did not incur. These can include:

• Speeding fines and Fixed Penalty Notices (typically £100)
• Parking Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)
• ULEZ and Congestion Charge penalties (especially in London)
• Fuel theft charges
• Toll and bridge crossing charges

Real case (2026): A driver received £8,500 in ULEZ fines after their number plate was cloned. They appealed, but the initial appeal was rejected. (Source: The Guardian, May 2026)

How to appeal: Contact the issuing authority with your police crime reference number and evidence that your vehicle was not at the location. Most authorities have a cloning dispute process, but you must act within their appeal deadlines (usually 14-28 days). If your appeal is rejected, escalate to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal or London Tribunals (for ULEZ/congestion charges).

8. Can ANPR cameras detect cloned plates?

No — and this is a key part of the problem. ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras can read a registration mark and instantly look up DVLA records, but they cannot tell the difference between the original vehicle and a clone.

If a criminal clones a blue Ford Fiesta plates and puts them on another blue Ford Fiesta, ANPR will show the clone as registered and insured — because the database only checks the registration, not the physical vehicle.

This is why cloning is so effective for criminals and so damaging for victims. The system trusts the plate, not the car behind it.

9. What are ghost plates?

Ghost plates are number plates that appear completely normal to the naked eye but are designed to be unreadable by ANPR and infrared cameras. They typically use:

• Reflective coatings or films that block infrared light
• Modified reflective backing that prevents cameras from reading characters
• Treatments that make characters appear blank or distorted under camera flash

Ghost plates are illegal in the UK. Using them can result in prosecution, fines, and vehicle seizure. They are increasingly linked to serious organised crime, including fuel theft, burglary, and human trafficking.

Unlike cloning (where criminals copy an innocent driver plate), ghost plates are designed to make a vehicle completely untraceable — making them even more dangerous.

10. Can I get a new registration number if cloned?

Yes. If your number plate has been cloned, the DVLA can — on request — provide a replacement age-related registration number (Source: UK Parliament, September 2025). This gives you a new registration mark so the cloned plates no longer match your vehicle.

To request this:

1. Contact the DVLA with your crime reference number from the police
2. Provide evidence that cloning has occurred (fines, police report)
3. The DVLA will assess your case and may issue a new registration

You will then need to have new physical plates made with the new registration and update your insurance, MOT, and vehicle records.

Read the full guide: How to change your registration number after cloning →

11. How do I avoid buying a cloned car?

If you buy a cloned car, you could lose both the vehicle and the money you paid. Protect yourself when buying used:

• Check the registration on the DVLA vehicle enquiry service — Verify the make, model, colour, and engine match the V5C.
• Verify the VIN — The Vehicle Identification Number on the chassis should match the V5C exactly.
• Check the V5C document — Look for the DVLA watermark and verify the document number is valid.
• Be wary of bargains — If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Get a vehicle history check — Use services like HPI Check to verify the vehicle history.
• Meet at the seller address — The address on the V5C should match where you are collecting the car.
• Check for previous adverts — Search the registration online to see if it has been advertised elsewhere with different details.

Read the full guide: How to avoid buying a cloned car →

12. How can I prevent number plate cloning?

You cannot completely prevent cloning, but you can reduce your risk:

• Use anti-theft screws — Tamper-proof screws make it harder for criminals to physically remove your plates.
• Register with Protect A Plate — Your registration is added to an encrypted database and monitored. If a supplier requests to make plates with your registration, you receive an instant alert — giving you early warning before any crime is committed.
• Do not post photos of your vehicle online — Social media and marketplace listings are a primary source for criminals looking for vehicles to clone.
• Park securely — Use garages, driveways, or well-lit areas with CCTV where possible.
• Remove old adverts — If you have sold a car, ask the previous owner to remove any listings that show the registration.

Read the full guide: How to prevent number plate cloning →

13. Can ULEZ and congestion charges come from cloning?

Yes — ULEZ and Congestion Charge cloning is one of the fastest-growing problems for London drivers. Criminals clone plates to enter the ULEZ zone without paying, and all charges are billed to the innocent registered keeper.

TfL data shows ULEZ penalty representations involving cloned plates, though they represent less than 0.8% of all penalties. However, with the expansion of ULEZ across all London boroughs, the raw numbers are rising significantly. (Source: TfL Freedom of Information)

If you receive a ULEZ PCN you do not recognise:

1. Check the date, time, and location against your own movements
2. If your vehicle was not there, report to police immediately (get a crime reference number)
3. Appeal via TfL representation process, including your crime reference and any evidence
4. Notify the DVLA that your plate has been cloned

14. Do I need to tell my insurance company if my plate is cloned?

Yes. You should notify your insurance company if your number plate has been cloned. While it may not directly affect your policy, there are several reasons to inform them:

• Cloned plates linked to your registration could generate offences on your record
• If the clone vehicle is involved in an accident, your insurer may be contacted
• Having a record of reporting it protects you if disputes arise later
• Some insurers offer support or guidance for cloning victims

Keep your crime reference number and any correspondence from the police and DVLA — your insurer may ask for it.

15. How does Protect A Plate work?

Protect A Plate is the UK vehicle registration verification network. It works proactively to protect you before cloning happens:

1. Register your plate — Add your vehicle registration and VIN to create a secure digital record.
2. Plate is verified before manufacture — When a registered supplier receives a request to make plates with your registration, Protect A Plate verifies it against your record.
3. Instant alerts — If someone tries to have plates made with your registration, you receive an immediate alert so you can take action before any crime is committed.
4. Supplier network — Number plate suppliers across the UK are connected to the Protect A Plate system, creating a verification chain from manufacture to ownership.

Unlike reactive solutions that only help after you have been cloned, Protect A Plate monitors your plate continuously and alerts you at the earliest possible stage.