Many UK caravan owners unaware of number plates rule for travelling abroad
Many owners do not know that new rules require UK caravans and trailers over a certain size to be registered with their own number plates, rather than just displaying the number of the towing vehicle. The regulations affect any caravan or trailer with a gross weight of over 750kg that may travel to Europe. Previously, the requirement for separate registration only applied to those trailers weighing over 3,500kg, or commercial trailers. For lighter trailers and caravans, a copy of the car's plate was sufficient.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has introduced the rule to keep UK travellers heading abroad with their caravans in line with other countries.
There are modest costs involved in registering caravans and trailers. First-time registration costs £26 and it costs £21 to get a certificate for a new registered keeper. There will also be a £10 fee to replace a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed trailer registration certificate.
Importantly, the separate registration plate should be displayed as well as the car number plates, but not too close together.
Drivers are also advised to take the caravan's registration certificate with them when travelling in France.
It is the owner's responsibility to purchase the physical number plates. The number plate supplier will need to see the Trailer Registration Certificate before supplying plates.
Birmingham fly-tippers prosecuted for number plates offence
Two people denied dumping unwanted wooden boards in a Birmingham street when they appeared in court. The pair were also charged with fraudulently altering a number plate on the van they used while committing the offence.
The defendants, aged 59 and 41, both of Beechmount Drive, Birmingham, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates on 7 May 2026, although the offences were actually committed in 2024. Both defendants answered the same three charges, namely dumping the wooden boards in Crick Lane, Handsworth; failing to comply with a notice from the council requiring them to confirm the identity of the driver at the time of the offences and altering the plates on a Mercedes Sprinter van.
Neither defendant had qualified legal representation when they appeared before magistrates.
Land Rover with multiple number plates seized by police
An M40 probe has resulted in a Land Rover with multiple number plates being seized.
Thames Valley Police seized a Land Rover on Wednesday, 29 April, following a brief investigation prompted by reports that a cloned vehicle was travelling along the M40.
"Cloning" means displaying number plates copied or stolen from another, often similar vehicle in order to confuse traffic cameras and police patrols. Cloning often leads to the keeper of the legally registered vehicle whose plates have been cloned being investigated.
Thames Valley Police said, "Intelligence was received regarding a cloned vehicle believed to be travelling along the motorway, which officers were requested to locate and intercept.
"Acting swiftly on this information, with targeted searches of the area, we were able to successfully identify the vehicle. Working together and utilising tactical options, officers brought the vehicle to a safe and controlled stop, ensuring minimal disruption to other road users."
Cambs motorist displaying fake number plates faces several charges
A man was arrested on suspicion of several driving offences after police stopped his vehicle in March, Cambridgeshire. The local police officers intercepted the car as they suspected that the number plates it was displaying were faked.
Officers carried out checks which confirmed their suspicions and revealed that the vehicle was uninsured and did not have a current, valid MOT. The car was stopped in Eastwood Avenue, March and the driver, a 48-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of various driving offences.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary said, "This is part of one of our current priorities: tackling vehicle-related anti-social behaviour and traffic offences in March, Whittlesey, and Chatteris town centres.
Essex police focus on cloned vehicle problem
In an operation conducted over three days, 24, 25 and 26 March 2026, officers from Essex Police's Road Safety Team, Roads Policing Unit, Operational Support Group and local policing teams worked together in a coordinated attack on vehicle crime.
The operation was focused on identifying vehicles being used illegally, including stolen vehicles, disqualified and uninsured drivers, drivers using cloned number plates to disguise their cars and offenders travelling between policing areas to evade arrest. During the three-day period, police stopped 153 vehicles, made 10 arrests and seized 21 vehicles for a range of offences.
Essex Police spokesman Sergeant Jim Allen said, "Officers found a significant prevalence of cloned vehicles, some linked to serious crimes, with offenders using registration plate changes to evade detection.
Using false plates is not a minor offence - it is a deliberate attempt to undermine the justice system, avoid responsibility and continue offending while putting the public in danger.
The operation delivered strong results throughout all three days, highlighting the importance of proactive roads policing to protecting the public and our neighbourhoods."
Reporting the operations, the Essex Police website said, "We continue to detect a high number of disqualified and uninsured drivers using our roads, something that is completely unacceptable. These drivers have already been deemed unsafe or unfit to drive, and by ignoring the law they put innocent members of the public at serious risk of harm.
"This type of operation shows the cross-cutting capability of our roads policing teams to identify and detect crime. Officers police the entire county on high-visibility, proactive patrols and often come across those who believe they can travel across borders to avoid arrest – it’s just not true, because when it comes to policing, for us, there are no borders. Crime is crime and no matter where it is committed, we will deal with the suspects if they are here in Essex.
"Operations like this will continue, with roads policing playing a vital role in tackling criminality, protecting communities and keeping Essex’s roads safe for everyone.
I’d encourage the public to tell us about anyone who doesn’t uphold the law or any vehicle that is suspected of being cloned, to contact us."
Gwent police use stinger device in dramatic stop of car with cloned plates
Police stopped the vehicle of a disqualified driver whom they subsequently detained on suspicion of several offences. The car, which was displaying cloned registration plates, was heading towards Caerleon, Newport at the time.
A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: "We were passed information that this vehicle was being driven on cloned registration plates in the Newport and Monmouthshire area. It was soon spotted by a roads policing officer heading towards Caerleon, where other units were ahead and waiting.
"A stinger device was deployed across the road and successfully stung the tyres of the vehicle."
A "stinger" or spike strip is a piece of tactical equipment used by police to stop fugitive and non-compliant vehicles. It consists of an extendable strip with spikes that puncture a car's tyres, thus making it impractical or impossible to continue driving.
As well as displaying fraudulent number plates, police said that the 50-year-old male driver was disqualified from driving and was uninsured. The vehicle was seized "to prevent any further risk on the roads."
