Cloned Car Plates: What Are They and Why You Should Be Concerned
Car cloning might sound like a plot twist from Blade Runner, but it’s a very real and growing issue for UK motorists.
This illegal practice involves criminals replicating your car’s registration plates and using them on another vehicle. The result? You could find yourself unjustly bombarded with parking tickets, speeding fines, and other penalties that weren’t your fault.
So, why should you care?
As cities expand congestion and emission zones, such as London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), the temptation for fraudsters to use cloned plates to escape these charges increases. The ease of purchasing fake plates online has only made this crime easier to pull off.
Read on to understand how car cloning works, its impact on UK drivers, and how to protect yourself from unwanted fines and penalty points!
What Are Cloned Car Plates?
Simply put, cloned car plates are illegal copies of a vehicle’s registration number.
The process involves criminals taking registration details from a legitimate car and attaching them to their own vehicle. This hack lets them fly under the radar while committing various crimes, all while keeping their own car’s identity hidden.
How Do Criminals Use Cloned Plates
But what exactly are the crimes that these cloned plates are used for? Here’s a rundown of how criminals could exploit your number plate:
- Dodge Fines and Charges: With congestion charges and Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) fees on the rise, cloned plates allow criminals to avoid these costs. In high-enforcement areas like London, fake plates are especially prevalent to dodge hefty fines.
- Petty Traffic Penalties: Whether it’s running red lights, speeding, or parking illegally, cloned plates allow offenders to accumulate traffic fines and penalties without getting caught.
- Engage in Serious Crimes: Cloned plates can also be used for more serious activities like smuggling or theft. By disguising their vehicle’s identity, criminals make it harder for authorities to track them down and enforce the law.
Why Low Emission Zones Are Exacerbating the Problem
Low Emission Zones (LEZs), London’s ULEZ, are designed to clear the air and cut pollution, but they’re inadvertently revving up the problem of car cloning.
The financial incentives created by LEZs are the driving factor behind cloned plates. These zones impose daily fees on vehicles that don’t meet specific emission standards. As a result, criminals use cloned plates on vehicles that are exempt from these charges or have a clean emission record. By doing so, they can avoid paying the fees and dodge the environmental costs associated with their vehicles.
As LEZs expand to cover more areas, the stakes get higher. The broader the zone, the more opportunities criminals have to use cloned plates to evade charges. This makes a cloned plate even more profitable for criminals as they avoid a greater number of fines.
How Car Cloning Is Committed
Car cloning isn’t just slapping on a plate with fake numbers – it’s a nationwide operation with several crafty techniques. Here are the most common methods:
- Duplicating Registration Numbers: Criminals pick cars of the same make, model, and colour to make their cloned plates blend in. They then create fake plates that match the original vehicle’s registration number, making it hard for anyone to spot the impostor.
- Using Stolen Plates: Sometimes, it’s as simple as swiping actual plates from parked cars. These stolen plates are then slapped onto the criminal’s vehicle.
- Reproducing Plate Designs: For the skilled criminals, they reproduce the exact design and appearance of legitimate plates using high-quality printing technology.
With anonymous internet shopping, even petty criminals can get their hands on a bespoke cloned plate in just one fast, discrete transaction.
How To Protect Your Vehicle From Being Cloned
In just three simple steps, you can safeguard your number plates and keep those sneaky criminals at bay.
1. Avoid Posting Pictures of Your Car Online
Sharing snaps of your car on social media or public forums might seem harmless, but it can expose your registration plate to potential crooks.
You don’t have to stop engaging with your favourite car meetup group, but you must ensure that your number plate is not clearly visible. If you really need to share a pic, blur out or cover the plate number.
2. Use Anti-Theft Screws or Number Plate Protectors
For a more immediately practical tip, invest in anti-theft screws. These specialised screws require unique tools to remove, encouraging criminals to move on to an easier target.
Additionally, number plate protectors can help shield your plates with a tough cover. As you guessed, this helps to prevent tampering and theft.
3. Regularly Check for Suspicious Activity
Stay sharp and keep an eye on your vehicle for any unusual activity. Regularly inspect your number plates to ensure they’re securely fastened and haven’t been tampered with. If you receive any unexpected fines or notices that seem fishy, report them immediately to the authorities.
How to Detect and Report Cloned Plates
The easiest way to detect if you have been a victim of cloned plates is receiving an unexpected fine. Whether it’s a surprise traffic violation, parking ticket, or congestion charge – they are all red flags that someone else is using your number plates.
You should also check any fines or notices you receive for discrepancies. If the details of the vehicle, such as make, model, or features, don’t match your car, it might mean your plates have been cloned.
If you fear that your plates have been cloned, make sure you follow these steps:
- Return and Challenge Fines
- Review Notices: Gather all the fines and notices you’ve received and look for discrepancies in the details, like vehicle appearance or location of the alleged offences.
- Contact Authorities: Return the fines to the issuing authority with a written explanation stating that the penalties are not associated with your vehicle. Attach any supporting evidence you have, such as dash cam footage or witness statements.
- Contact the DVLA
- Inform the DVLA: Notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about your suspicion that your number plates have been cloned. They will update your vehicle record to reflect the issue and help prevent further complications.
- Provide Evidence: Be ready to provide any evidence to back up your claim. This will help the DVLA verify the cloning and take the necessary actions.
- Report to the Police
- File a Report: Report the cloning to the police. You can do this online or by calling 111, the non-emergency number. Provide all relevant information and evidence to help them investigate the crime.
- Follow Up: Keep in touch with the police for updates on the investigation. Your report helps law enforcement track down the culprits and may prevent further issues.
Conclusion
Car cloning is a growing threat that can lead to costly legal and financial issues. To safeguard your vehicle, avoid posting photos of your plates online, use anti-theft devices, and regularly check for tampering.
If you suspect cloning, dispute any incorrect fines, inform the DVLA, and report the issue to the police. Staying proactive is key to protecting your vehicle and reducing the risk of becoming a victim of this crime.
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