DVLA issues fresh warning to drivers over number plate issue that could lead to fines - 'Be aware'
Drivers will need to act if they have their number plates stolen
GETTY
Experts have warned drivers of what steps they will need to take if they have their number plates stolen, with fears that they could be slapped with fines.
With car theft rates on the rise, motorists will need to be mindful that thieves will attempt to steal number plates and other key materials from their vehicles.
Now, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has called on motorists to take action if they have been impacted by criminals looking to steal their number plates.
Posting earlier this week on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, the DVLA said: "Be aware of stolen number plates.
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The DVLA called on motorists to act if they have their number plates stolen
PA"If you’ve lost yours, make sure you get one from a registered number plate supplier. You’ll need an identity document [and] proof you can use the registration number."
If a number plate is stolen, drivers will need to get a new one made up, which can also happen when a car is being imported to the UK or they have purchased a personalised registration number.
When with a number plate supplier, motorists will need proof of the name and address of the individual, as well as evidence that they are legally allowed to use the registration number.
Drivers are also being warned about the potential impacts they could face if they have their number plates stolen or cloned, which could see them hit with hefty fines.
With the growing number of Clean Air Zones and Low Emission Zones, as well as London's Ulez, number plates are being monitored to see whether vehicles are compliant.
If someone owns a particularly old or more polluting vehicle, they will be slapped with fines for not adhering to the emissions rules.
Drivers still face fines if they have had their number plate stolen or cloned, even if they personally haven't driven inside the zone.
Recently, experts warned that drivers were targeting Birmingham's Clean Air Zone with cloned number plates, which sees them avoid fines, even though an innocent person faces being slapped with a penalty charge notice.
One motorist, Evan O'Gorman, received a speeding fine in the post saying that his car had been clocked travelling 49mph in a 30mph zone in Trafford, Manchester, according to The Times.
However, O'Gorman claimed he had never been to Manchester and his car was parked in north London. Despite this, he was issued with a £100 fine and threatened with an escalation taking the bill to £1,000.
In addition to not being in Manchester, he said his vehicle had been heavily modified, with the image of the car on the speeding ticket not having those changes.
Between January 2021 and September 2022, 12,300 cases of cloned number plates were sent to the DVLA, with an average of 7,000 cases seen annually.
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Car theft rates have increased dramatically in recent years
GETTYIn recent years, Transport for London reported a 631 per cent increase in the fines being overturned because of number plate cloning, The Telegraph reported.
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