What to do if Your Car is Cloned

Cloning a car is carried out by copying the identity of a legitimate vehicle already on the road, and using this identity to disguise a different car. For example, by stealing the number plates from a car that is the exact match of a car they have already stolen, criminals can make a stolen car appear legal. The plates may also be used to disguise cars that are used in crimes such as ram-raiding and theft from petrol stations, as well as to avoid parking tickets, speeding fines and congestion charges.

If your car has been cloned, the first you might know about it is when you are contacted about charges or fines for which you are not responsible. If you think you have become the victim of cloning, you should follow these steps:

1. Inform the police immediately. Although they might not be able to do anything immediately, they will add your number plate to a database of known cloned numbers. This may mean that you get pulled over by the police occasionally as they check to make sure that you are the registered owner; however, it also means that the car that has stolen your identity will also be targeted.
2. Inform the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency); they will record your correspondence on the vehicle record for future reference. If they are satisfied that there is a genuine case of vehicle cloning, then they may issue your car with a new registration mark.
3. If you have received any fines or charges, return them to the issuing authorities, along with any documentary evidence you have to prove your case.

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