(Image: Matt Morrison/Getty)
Drivers hit by wrongful fines can now get them wiped under a national system.
The official protocol sets out how motorists can clear penalties after criminals steal their vehicle registration identity.
Number plate cloning occurs when criminals copy a legitimate registration number and display it on another vehicle.
Victims often only discover the crime when unexpected penalty charge notices, bus lane fines, clean air zone fees, or speeding tickets arrive in the post for journeys they never made.
Under the updated government guidance, motorists in England and Wales must report the incident to the police using a dedicated online form on the Police.uk website, or by calling 101.
Submitting the online report automatically notifies the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on the driver's behalf.
Drivers in Scotland and Northern Ireland must report the cloning directly to police by calling 101.
Registered keepers can also report the issue by post by writing directly to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR.
Anyone writing to the agency must provide their vehicle registration details and enclose copies of all incorrect penalty notices received.
Once a report is processed, the licensing agency sends an official confirmation letter to the address recorded on the vehicle log book.
Motorists must send a copy of this DVLA letter to the issuing council, police force, or private car park operator to have wrongful fines cancelled.
Officials warned that while victims can continue driving, their vehicle registration remains flagged on police automatic number plate recognition cameras.
Drivers are advised to keep their police reference number, V5C vehicle log book, and driving licence in their car in case patrol officers pull them over.
The streamlined guidance comes alongside targeted enforcement by a specialist roads policing team funded by the Home Office and the Department for Transport.
The National Roads Policing Coordination Centre unit specifically targets criminals who use cloned and ghost plates to evade detection on British roads.
Transport ministers confirmed the dedicated crackdown aims to protect lawful motorists while denying criminals the use of the highway network.
Is your number plate legal?
These are the rules you should be aware of around licence plates from the DVLA.
The number plates on your vehicle must:
- be made from a reflective material
- display black characters on a white background (front plate)
- display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
- not have a background pattern
- be marked to show who supplied the number plate
- be marked with a British Standard number - this is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021
The characters must not be removable or reflective. If your number plates were fitted after 1 September 2021, they must also be a single shade of black.
Your number plates can also:
- have 3D (raised) characters
- display certain flags, symbols and identifiers
- display a green flash, if you have a zero-emission vehicle
Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing , said: “Characters must not be removable or reflective, however, your number plates can have 3D (raised) characters, display certain flags, symbols and identifiers and display a green flash, if you have a zero-emission vehicle.
“It’s important to drivers to understand the nuances of what’s required for their licence plates as even the smallest modifications could make it illegal. For example, 3D characters are allowed on licence plates, but if the raised letters are not black or have a reflective coating on them, this could make them illegal.
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“It’s also important for drivers to understand that any modifications around their licence plate, that could make it unreadable, are also considered illegal.
“For example, licence plate lights must be white – not tinted blue or any other colour – and need to illuminate the plate evenly without causing any shadows. The bulbs themselves must not be visible.
“Failure to meet these requirements can result in fines of up to £1,000, as well as an MOT failure for the vehicle.
“Motorists looking to replace or customise their plates should only buy from DVLA-registered suppliers who follow the legal guidelines. Plates that feature illegal fonts, incorrect spacing, tinted backgrounds, or missing supplier information can all lead to penalties.
“For those unsure whether their plates comply, checking with a reputable supplier or consulting DVLA guidelines is the safest way to avoid unnecessary fines or complications.”