Official data shows the number of reported incidents involving cloned number plates on UK roads has reached a record high, with more than 11,400 motorists contacting the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) last year to dispute fines they said they did not recognise or accept responsibility for.
Cloning is understood to involve copying a legitimate registration onto a different vehicle, often a similar make or model, to defeat enforcement cameras and evade penalties. Most of the disputed notices reported to the DVLA are believed to stem from this practice, according to the data.
Motorists who receive a notice for an offence they deny committing typically have to contact the DVLA to explain their situation and, in many cases, prove that their vehicle was not involved. The rise in complaints has drawn attention to potential weaknesses in how enforcement and vehicle identity are managed.
The RAC, representing motorists, said the pattern demonstrates a need to reform the current system. The motoring group argued that growing levels of plate cloning undermine confidence in camera-based enforcement and place an unfair burden on drivers who must demonstrate their innocence.
The increase in reported cloning incidents adds to pressure on authorities to review safeguards around number-plate identification and enforcement procedures. The DVLA data highlights the scale of the problem but stops short of detailing how many disputed cases were ultimately resolved in favour of motorists or led to further investigation.