Cloned number plates

What is number plate cloning?

Number plate cloning is the unlawful duplication of a registration number. The cloned number plate is then assigned to a second vehicle and can be used by criminals to commit crimes under a false identity.

What to do if my number plate is cloned?

Generally, it can be hard to find out if your number plate has actually been cloned. However, if you start to receive fines that you are not responsible for then that can be a strong indication that your number has been cloned. In such a case, it is important to collect as much evidence as possible to show that you were not driving the vehicle that committed the offences, such as your locations at the times of the offences. You should also report suspicions of cloning to the police and the DVLA.

How do I report a cloned number plate to the police?

Contact the police and give full details of your car and registration number, and your own personal details. Inform them that you suspect that your registration number has been cloned and tell them why you believe that to be the case. Ask them if they want you to produce and correspondence you may have received regarding offences allegedly involving a vehicle bearing your registration number.

You should receive a crime reference number. It is important to record that number.

How do I report a cloned number plate to the DVLA?

You should also report the cloning to DVLA. Although they have not disclosed the methods used to identify cloned number plates, it is likely that the police will work with the DVLA and other relevant organisations, so ensuring that everyone has as much information as possible is helpful. Full reporting can also help you to avoid liability for penalties incurred by the driver of the vehicle displaying the cloned number.

You can contact DVLA by telephone.

DVLA Vehicle Enquiries

Telephone: 0300 790 6802

Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm

Saturdays, 8am to 2pm

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The role of DVLA

Car registrations and number plates, including personalised number plates, in the UK, are the responsibility of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, usually known as the DVLA. It issues new registrations twice a year and also maintains the central database that records details of all vehicles licensed to drive on UK roads, along with their keeper and registration information.

Regtransfers works closely with DVLA to complete registration transfers as quickly and efficiently as possible. Regtransfers is a DVLA-registered supplier of personal car registrations and number plates and is listed on the DVLA Registrations website. All number plates supplied by Regtransfers comply with DVLA's prescribed standards and regulations.

DVLA administers all UK registration transfers and issues updated registration documents when the registration number of a car is changed, or when a registration is removed from a vehicle and placed on a retention document in accordance with the DVLA Retention Scheme.

DVLA is a registered trade mark of the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency. Regtransfers is not affiliated with the DVLA or DVLA Personalised Registrations. Regtransfers is a recognised reseller of unissued Government stock.

Number plate regulations

When a car is on the road, it is an offence to display number plates bearing any number other than the vehicle's officially recorded registration number. If you purchase a private registration, learn how to transfer private plates before displaying the new number.

All registration number plates displayed on UK vehicles must comply with the official number plate regulations. DVLA oversees enforcement of number plates display regulations and maintains a register of approved manufacturers and retailers of vehicle number plates.

Regtransfers is not part of, and is not formally affiliated with DVLA.