HPI, a leading vehicle data and valuation specialist, warns motorists to be vigilant against car-cloning criminals to avoid fines and penalties for offences they have not committed.
Criminals use cloned registration plates to evade detection by police automated number plate recognition (ANPR) systems, which can lead to serious financial repercussions for drivers and jeopardize passenger safety. With the removal of the requirement to display a tax disc in a vehicle’s windscreen, it has become easier for criminals to conceal stolen cars using false plates already in circulation, ideally matching the car’s make, model, and colour.
In the UK, car owners must provide their vehicle’s logbook, a driver’s license, and proof of address to purchase a registration plate. However, “show plates” can be bought online or over the phone without such documentation. Once obtained, nothing prevents these show plates from being used on the road, even though it is illegal.
Show plates can be purchased easily and legally for around £20, often with same-day dispatch.
Stacey Ward, senior data director at HPI, commented: “Cloning disguises the identity of a stolen car sold to an unsuspecting victim. We also observe petty criminals cloning cars to avoid congestion charges and offences like speeding tickets and parking fines, while organized gangs use cloned plates to commit more serious crimes.
“Cloning causes issues for the owners or registered keepers of the cloned cars and for used car buyers who unknowingly purchase cloned vehicles. They may lose both the car and their money when the vehicle is returned to the original registered keeper by the police. A cloned car may also conceal other serious problems, such as false mileage readings or being previously written off after an accident, which can compromise the safety of drivers, passengers, and other road users.
“If you plan to buy a second-hand car, conducting an HPI Check beforehand is crucial. This check will reveal if the car’s registration plates have been cloned and if the car has been stolen, written off, or has outstanding financial obligations from a previous keeper.”
The HPI Check confirms whether the vehicle registration, engine, and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) stamped on the car match those held by the DVLA.
HPI urges used car buyers to take the following simple steps to avoid falling victim to cloning criminals:
- Always check the provenance/history of the car you are considering purchasing and ensure you view it at the address listed on the V5C/logbook.
- Review the vehicle’s V5C/logbook. Stolen and counterfeit documents are still being used with cloned cars. The HPI Check includes a unique verification for stolen logbook documents as standard.
- Check for forged documents. A simple method to confirm that the V5C has not been falsified is to hold it up to the light and look for official DVLA watermarks. No watermarks likely indicate a forgery.
- Ensure all the vehicles VIN/chassis numbers match, and then conduct a vehicle history check, such as the HPI Check, to verify that they align with DVLA records.
- Be cautious if the car is advertised at a significantly lower value than the market value. Be wary if the asking price is less than 70% of the market price, as no seller wants to lose money on their sale.
- Remember that cash is not always king! If the seller insists on cash payments, it could be an attempt to avoid leaving a paper trail once the transaction is completed. Buyers who pay in cash and later discover they have purchased a cloned car may need the money or the vehicle.
Ultimately, if you have doubts about the vehicle or the seller, walk away—you are not obligated to buy.
Stacey Ward concludes: “A thorough vehicle history check conducted online at www.hpicheck.com will confirm whether a vehicle has a troubled past. The HPI Check also includes a guarantee that protects buyers against purchasing a cloned car, providing financial peace of mind in the event of falling victim to a fraudulent transaction.”
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