Cloned number plates on UK roads reach record high, DVLA data shows

More than 11,400 drivers contest fines after their registration is fraudulently copied

By LineZotpaper

Published16 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

The number of cloned number plates involved in offences on UK roads has reached a record high, with more than 11,400 drivers contacting the DVLA last year after receiving fines for offences they did not recognise, according to RAC analysis of official data.

The figure, obtained by the RAC motoring organisation through freedom of information requests, is 9% higher than in 2024 and almost double the number recorded in 2018. Most cases are believed to involve cloning, where a number plate is fraudulently copied onto a similar vehicle to avoid enforcement cameras.

The rising numbers have renewed concerns about illegal plates being used by criminals to evade detection and by dangerous drivers to avoid being caught. While drivers should provide number plate suppliers with the V5C vehicle logbook and proof of identity, an investigation last year found more than 130 official suppliers in the UK willing to sell cloned versions.

The RAC said the incidents left innocent car owners struggling to prove they were not responsible when enforcement camera images appeared to show their vehicle committing offences. A parallel concern is the use of "ghost" plates, designed to be unreadable by the UK's 18,000 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, which enforce speed limits and lane closures on smart motorways.

Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, said the UK needed to overhaul an outdated and poorly regulated number plate system. "If number plate suppliers were carrying out all the checks they're supposed to, it would be much harder for dodgy drivers to buy cloned plates in the first place," he said. "It's only when a fine arrives at a vehicle keeper's home address that they realise someone else is driving around using their vehicle's number plate illegally."

He also called for more action against ghost plates, including more police officers equipped with handheld detection devices, updated ANPR cameras, and higher security standards for plates and their producers.

Last month the government announced a new nationwide crackdown on illegal number plates, with Department for Transport funding for a new roads policing team. A new National Roads Policing Coordination Centre would share intelligence and trial technology such as specialised goggles to detect plates designed to be unreadable by cameras.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Innocent motorists are receiving fines for offences they did not commit and must prove their vehicle was cloned.
Cloned and ghost plates let criminals evade detection and dangerous drivers avoid enforcement, undermining road safety measures.
The government has announced a crackdown, but enforcement relies on new technology and stronger regulation of plate suppliers.

Background

Number plate cloning involves copying an existing vehicle's registration onto another, usually similar, vehicle. It allows drivers to pass through enforcement cameras without fines or penalty points being attached to them. Ghost plates, by contrast, are deliberately designed to be unreadable by cameras, using techniques such as reflective coatings or altered lettering. The DVLA requires suppliers to check a buyer's logbook and identity, but the latest figures suggest these checks are frequently bypassed.

Key Perspectives

Vehicle keepers: Innocent drivers face the burden of proving a cloned plate was used, often only discovering the problem when a fine arrives in the post.

The RAC: The motoring organisation argues the current system is outdated and poorly regulated, and wants tougher checks on suppliers, better equipment for police, and higher security standards for plates.

The government: It has said it will fund a new roads policing team and a National Roads Policing Coordination Centre, and trial technology to detect unreadable plates. Success depends on whether these measures actually reduce the number of misattributed fines.

What to Watch

Whether the number of misattribution complaints falls once the new roads policing team and coordination centre are operational.
Whether the government introduces higher security standards for plate production and supplier checks.
Whether police adoption of handheld detection devices and ANPR camera updates meaningfully reduces ghost plate use.

Sources

Number of cloned number plates on UK roads at record high, data shows — World news | The Guardian
Number of cloned number plates on UK roads at record high, data shows — Business | The Guardian