The Number Of Cars Being Cloned Has Quadrupled Over Last 4 Years
Friday, 5. April 2019
The number of reported cloned cars has risen from 1,255 in 2012/13 to 4,802 between April and December 2018, according to the DVLA. And the police believe that due to underreporting the figure could be substantially higher. The reasons given are the ease that cars can now be stolen and the availability of ‘Show Plates’ online.
If you wanted a set of official plates for your car you have to obtain them from a DVLA registered supplier and they must see proof of ownership before they will supply them. Like the crooks that are able to legally buy mileage adjustment equipment online it is legal to buy show plates online but just not to be fitted to a car.
As a result, it is easy enough and cheap enough to buy ‘show plates’ online using the registration number of an identical car, often found through car ads, then fit the plates onto a stolen car. The police then believe that these cars are then used for various criminal activities such as robbery or drug-dealing. Industry sources say that more needs to be done. There is no identification on number plates to show where they were made nor are plates, once fitted, tamper proof.
Two things that the industry has been pushing for. Chief Constable, Charlie Hall of the National Police Chiefs Council said that some of the increase could be explained as a result of increased plate recognition cameras now able to auto issue fixed penalty fines and the owner of the cloned car being alerted that his car has been cloned when a parking or speeding ticket is issued in an area he didn’t visit.
The problem is that the courts and authorities assume that you committed the offence and it’s down to you to prove otherwise, for many a very stressful experience, especially if the case has reached a court. The advice from Auto Express to protect yourself when buying a used car that could be cloned is:
When buying a second-hand car use a dealer who is responsible for all background checks. If buying privately visit the seller’s house and never carry out a transaction in a layby or car park.
If the car is being sold well below market value be very suspicious.
Make sure that you compare the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that can be found at the base of a car’s windscreen or inside a door jamb with the number shown in the V5C and any other supporting documentation
Never share copies of your V5C logbook online or give out the 11 or 12 digit Document Reference Number contained on the V5C
If you receive a parking or speeding ticket – or any other fixed penalty notice and you believe that your car has been cloned, immediately contact the issuing authority, the police and the DVLA, making sure that you document everything in writing.
Happy driving! By Graham Hill
