12:48 pm, October 19, 2026
Reports of vehicle cloning have reached record levels, with more than 11,400 motorists contacting the DVLA last year over fines and penalties they claimed were not theirs.
New figures obtained by the RAC show that 11,402 drivers disputed offences linked to their vehicles in 2025, a 9% increase on the 10,460 recorded in 2024.
The figure has also risen by 93% since 2018, when 5,912 motorists contacted the DVLA about penalties they did not recognise.
Vehicle cloning involves criminals copying a legitimate vehicle’s registration plate and fitting it to another car, often of the same make, model and colour, to avoid detection by enforcement cameras.
The practice can leave innocent motorists facing speeding fines, parking penalties and other charges for offences they have not committed.
The RAC says the growing problem highlights weaknesses in the UK’s number plate supply system, with some illegal operators producing plates without carrying out the required identity and ownership checks.
Legitimate suppliers are required to check documents, including proof of identity and evidence that a customer is entitled to use the registration number, before issuing replacement plates.
However, the motoring organisation says criminals are exploiting suppliers who fail to carry out the necessary checks.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘The continued rise in the number of cloned vehicles is alarming and confirms that cloning has become the menace of modern-day motoring, as it leaves innocent drivers having to fight to prove they weren’t driving their own vehicle at the time and place camera evidence shows.’
He added: ‘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.’
The organisation is also warning about the growing use of so-called ‘ghost’ plates, which are designed to prevent Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras from reading registration numbers.
There are around 18,000 ANPR cameras across the UK, recording approximately 90m vehicle reads every day.
The technology is used to enforce a range of offences and charges, including speeding, red-light violations, bus lane restrictions and clean air zone rules.
Unlike conventional cloning, the true scale of ghost plate use is difficult to establish because the plates are specifically designed to avoid detection.
A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety, supported by the RAC, suggested that as many as one in 15 vehicles could be displaying modified or non-compliant registration plates.
These include ghost and stealth plates intended to evade ANPR cameras.
The RAC is now backing calls for tighter regulation of number plate suppliers, improved security standards and stronger enforcement against drivers using illegal plates.
Williams said: ‘More needs to be done to catch drivers who have ghost plates, whether that’s more police officers being equipped with handheld devices that can detect if plates are unreadable, updating ANPR cameras and introducing higher security standards for number plates and for those who produce them.’
He also warned that some motorists could be using non-compliant plates without realising it, particularly where materials used in raised 3D plates interfere with camera recognition.
The RAC says the government appears to be considering tougher penalties for number plate offences but believes more action is needed to prevent vehicles being cloned in the first place.