Vehicle cloning reaches record high leaving drivers unfairly fined

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 06:00 · Archive

Vehicle cloning has reached its highest ever level, with more than 11,400 motorists contesting fines for offences they did not commit.

Vehicle cloning has reached its highest ever level, leaving innocent drivers facing fines for road incidents they never committed. More than 11,400 motorists contacted the DVLA last year after receiving penalty notices for offences they did not recognise. Most of those disputed penalties are believed to involve cloned plates, according to data obtained by the RAC.

Cloning happens when a registration plate is copied and placed on a similar vehicle to evade speed and enforcement cameras. Many victims only discover their registration has been stolen when an unexpected fine arrives in the post.

Freedom of Information figures show disputes rose nine per cent from 10,460 in 2024, and have nearly doubled since 2018 when 5,912 cases were logged. Suppliers must legally inspect a V5C logbook to prove ownership, but illegal operators continue to print plates without running checks.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the continued rise confirms that cloning has become 'the menace of modern-day motoring', leaving innocent drivers having to fight to prove they were not driving their own vehicle at the time and place camera evidence shows. He said that if number plate suppliers carried out all the checks they are supposed to, it would be much harder for fraudsters to buy cloned plates.

Williams added that once fraudsters have copied someone else's plate, it is extremely unlikely they will be caught by police, as they pick similar cars in terms of make, model and colour so as not to draw attention to themselves.

How it is being reported

• This number plate issue could see you fined for crashes you weren't inVehicle cloning hits record high as more than 11,400 motorists contest fines for offences committed by fraudsters on cloned number plates.Gazette & Herald · 20 Oct, 05:00
• This number plate issue could see you fined for crashes you weren't inVehicle cloning hits record high as more than 11,400 motorists contest fines for offences committed by fraudsters on cloned number plates.Swindon Advertiser · 20 Oct, 05:00
• This number plate issue could see you fined for crashes you weren't inVehicle cloning hits record high as more than 11,400 motorists contest fines for offences committed by fraudsters on cloned number plates.Wiltshire Times · 20 Oct, 05:00

In this story: DVLA · RAC · Simon Williams

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