Prevention to Buy Illegal Number Plates
How to Prevent Buying Illegal Number Plates and What You Can Do With Old Plates?
As the new 22-number plates are available now, it is time you know how to avoid buying illegal plates to avoid penalties. Furthermore, you must be aware that rising car cloning cases can put you in trouble if criminals have duplicated your number plate.
This post will explain how to prevent yourself from getting scammed or incorrectly penalized. If you believe your vehicle's number plate is cloned, you should know what to do next. Lastly, if you want to purchase new number plates, learn your options for old plates.
1. Rising cases of cloned number plates
What is number plate cloning?
Number plate cloning, car cloning, or vehicle identity theft is an act of copying a vehicle’s number and using it on another car. Criminals usually pick a car with a clean history and make a duplicate number plate to use on their vehicle. While doing this, they choose models with the same make, model, and colour, so that it is hard for law enforcement to catch them.
With more Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras fixed on the roads now, we have witnessed a steep increase in the number of car clones. Furthermore, some rule benders use green plates on ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles to prevent green charges while driving on Clean Air Zones. All this has been possible due to some number plate suppliers not considering all the verification documents before creating plates.
How to avoid buying a cloned vehicle?
1. The number plate you want to buy should match VIN and the registration number mentioned on the logbook (V5c document).
2. Run vehicle history check to get the car's complete history comprising any plate changes.
3. Do not buy a vehicle in cash; otherwise, you cannot trace the transaction.
What steps to follow if your number plate has been cloned?
Someone might have cloned your plate if you receive a fine for a violation you didn’t commit. In such a scenario, you should:
1. Gather proof of your innocence through CCTV footage or GPS data
2. Inform the police that someone has cloned your number plate
3. Communicate the DVLA with your violation number to notify them you didn’t commit the offence.
4. Send back the charges or documents you got for the violation to the issuing authority.
Is it possible for me to avoid number plate cloning?
While you can’t stop a lawbreaker to clone a number plate, you can certainly perform the following steps to minimise the chances.
· Buy your number plate from a supplier signed up with the DVLA
· Get a personalised number plate
· Keep some pictures of your vehicle showing dents, scrapes, or any alteration that can distinguish it from the cloned car committing offences. This proof can aid you in evading the fines.
· Use a dashcam to track your location.
· Never give your logbook to anyone nor reveal your 11 or 12 digit reference number.
2. Illicit number plates with incorrect specifications
Besides an increased number of cloned plates, we are also witnessing many illegal number plates with incorrect specifications. If you have bought a number plate with the wrong specifications, the police will impose up to a £1,000 fine. It is also possible that a criminal is using your plate with incorrect design. In that case, too, you have to bear the penalty.
Ensure you always purchase your number plate from a registered supplier that follows correct design guidelines, including colour, font style, and spacing.
3. What should you do with the old plates?
If you like to purchase the new 22 registration plates, here is what you can do with the old plates.
1. Recycle
This environment-friendly idea is an excellent way to avoid the plates from getting pinched. Contact a recycling centre in this regard.
2. Sell your private number plate
Contact auction houses or online websites to sell your private number plate for some cash. Unfortunately, the DVLA doesn’t buyback.
3. Forfiet your entitlement to use a private number plate
If you own a personalised number plate and are ready to pass it to the DVLA, you can receive up to £80 reimbursement provided you possess the new V778 or V750 document, or you did not assign the registration number to a car.