Cloned cars: how to spot a cloned number plate

A cloned car is a stolen car wearing another car's identity. Criminals find a legal car of the same make, model and colour, copy its registration number onto plates for the stolen car, and sometimes forge a logbook to match. The plates, the DVLA record and the MOT history all look fine, because they belong to a real car. The one thing they cannot copy is the VIN stamped into the stolen car. Check the VIN on the car against an original V5C, and check the V5C itself, and you will catch most clones.

If you buy a clone, you will usually lose the car. It is stolen, and it goes back to its owner or insurer.

How cloning works

The legal car being copied is usually chosen because it looks identical: same model, same colour, similar age. Its details are easy to see in adverts and on the road. The clone then carries:

• Number plates showing the legal car's registration.
• A V5C, either forged, or a genuine blank logbook that was stolen and filled in with the legal car's details.
• Sometimes a VIN plate or sticker copied from the legal car and stuck over the original.

Because every online check of the registration returns the legal car's records, a clone can pass a quick look. The checks that work are the ones that compare the physical car with the paperwork.

Warning signs

• The price is low for the model and mileage.
• The seller will not meet at the address on the V5C, or meets you somewhere neutral.
• The V5C was issued very recently. The DVLA vehicle enquiry service on GOV.UK shows the date the last V5C was issued.
• Small mismatches with the MOT history, such as a different trim, wheels or engine size.
• Number plates that look new on an older car, or that carry no supplier details. Registered number plate suppliers have to see proof of identity and of the right to the registration before they make plates.
• A VIN sticker or plate that looks newer than the car, or is held on by glue or new rivets.

The checks that catch a clone

1. The VIN in at least two places

Find the VIN at the base of the windscreen, on the door pillar, and stamped into the chassis or bodywork. Every one must match the V5C, character by character. A clone can have a copied VIN on a sticker but the original stamped into the body. Our VIN guide shows where to look.

2. The V5C watermark and serial number

Ask for the original V5C. GOV.UK says it should have a "DVL" watermark, and that a serial number between BG8229501 and BG9999030, or between BI2305501 and BI2800000, means the V5C might be stolen. Our V5C logbook guide shows where these are.

3. The engine number

GOV.UK also asks buyers to check the engine number against the V5C. It is a second identity mark that is harder to change than a sticker.

4. The MOT history and DVLA record

The GOV.UK MOT history shows the make, model and colour on record, and the mileage for each test. For tests in England, Scotland and Wales it also shows where the car was tested. The DVLA record shows the engine size, fuel type and year of manufacture. Check them against the car in front of you. Watch for:

• a different engine size or fuel type
• an MOT mileage higher than the one on the dashboard
• a test history mostly in one part of the country, with the "owner" selling at the other end with no explanation

5. A vehicle history check

A history check shows whether the registration or the VIN is recorded as stolen. On a clone, the registration may be clean, because the legal car is not stolen. So use it alongside the VIN check, not instead of it. Our guide on how to check a car's history explains what each check covers.

Clones and private plates

A private plate on its own is not a warning sign. Plenty of honest cars have one. What matters is that the registration matches the V5C, and the VIN on the car matches the V5C. Our number plate age checker shows when a standard plate's age identifier was issued, which can help you spot a plate that does not fit the car's age. Our guide to private number plates explains how a plate moves between cars legally.

If your own car's plate has been cloned

The first sign is usually a speeding ticket, parking fine or congestion charge from a place you have not been. Act quickly.

1. Report it to the police. Use 101, or online reporting where your force offers it. Ask for a crime reference number.
2. Reply to every fine or penalty in writing, before its deadline. Explain that your car was not there, and send evidence: photos of your car showing differences from the one in the penalty photo, and anything that shows where you were.
3. Tell DVLA, giving the crime reference number, so the issue is on record.
4. Tell your insurer.
5. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

Do not ignore a penalty because you know it is not yours. An unanswered notice can escalate.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cloned car?

A stolen car that has been given the registration number, and sometimes the paperwork, of a similar legal car. It looks legitimate on any check of the registration alone.

How can I tell if a car is cloned?

Match the VIN on the car, in at least two places, against an original V5C. Check the V5C watermark and serial number, and compare the MOT history and DVLA record with the car in front of you.

What happens if I buy a cloned car?

You will usually lose it. The car is stolen and goes back to its owner or insurer. Your claim is against the seller, so keep every record of the sale.

What should I do if I get a fine for a place I have not been?

Report the possible cloning to the police, get a crime reference number, and reply to the fine with evidence that your car was not there. Then tell DVLA and your insurer.