Car cloning – what is it and how do I avoid being a victim?

Between potholes, petrol prices, and parking, the last thing you need is for someone to steal your number plate and commit crimes in your car’s name. Yep, car cloning is real. It’s fraud, and it’s happening up and down the country.

But don’t worry. You can avoid becoming the next unwitting getaway driver in someone else’s crime spree. Here’s how to keep your car’s identity safe and sound.

First, What Is Car Cloning?

Car cloning is when some cheeky criminal copies your number plate and sticks it on a near-identical vehicle. Why? Because then they can speed, dodge congestion charges, commit crimes, or park illegally, and you get the tickets, fines, and angry letters. It’s like identity theft—but for your car this time.

What steps can you take to avoid becoming a victim to this crime? Here are a few things you can do:

Step 1: Know the Signs 

If you suddenly get:

• Speeding or parking fines from places you’ve never driven,
• Congestion charge penalties despite taking the train that day,
• Letters from insurance companies you’ve never dealt with,

But before you panic and accuse a family member of joyriding, take a deep breath. Let’s prevent this mess from happening in the first place.

Step 2: Don’t Make It Easy for the Cloners

Criminals love lazy plate security. Make your car a little more difficult to clone than the next owner. 

Here’s how:

1. Use Anti-Tamper Number Plates

These plates are designed to shatter or delaminate if someone tries to rip them off. And bonus—they make criminals irritable.

2. Screw Them Down Literally

Use anti-theft screws to attach your plates. They require special tools to remove, and average crooks don’t walk around with these tools.

3. Mark Your Vehicle 

Use invisible security etching or microdots to mark your VIN or Vehicle Identification Number on windows and parts. It’s a pain for criminals to scrub off, and police love it for proving ownership.

Step 3: Be Suspicious of Bargain Cars 

If you’re buying a car and it’s:

• £3,000 cheaper than anything else online,
• Lacking service history,
• Comes with the classic seller story
• Or just sounds off

Run. Or at least check it thoroughly. Use the DVLA and services like HPI Check to confirm the car’s identity. Match the registration number to the VIN and engine number. If they don’t match, congratulations—you just avoided buying a clone.

Step 4: Get a Dash Cam 

You don’t need a high level security setup, but a front and rear dash cam can be a lifesaver. Not only can it capture the original cloner in action, but it can prove you were parked up in Leeds while the other car was running red lights in Bristol.

Also, when possible, park in well-lit areas or secure car parks. The dodgier the area, the happier the cloner.

Step 5: Fight Back With Paperwork

If you do get cloned, report it immediately:

• To the police (get a crime reference number),
• To the DVLA (they’ll flag the issue),
• To the parking or enforcement agency sending you the fines,
• And to your insurance company.

The sooner you report it, the less likely you’ll end up dealing with a more serious crime.

Final Thoughts: Keep Calm and Check Your Plates

Look, car cloning is sneaky, frustrating, and deeply annoying—but it’s preventable. With a bit of vigilance and a splash of security tech, you can steer clear of the chaos.

Stay smart. Stay skeptical. And whatever you do, don’t ignore the speeding ticket from a city you’ve never been to.