How to Spot a Cloned Car?
When buying a secondhand car, beware of vehicle cloning. Scammers use duplicate number plates to pass off a stolen car as a real one. The price of a car that seems too cheap or too good to be true may indicate illegal behaviour. In such circumstances, move away and explore other choices to prevent legal and financial issues. A car details check is one of the easiest ways to reveal inconsistencies that may signal cloning.
What is a Car Cloning?
Car cloning is like identity theft for cars. Criminals steal or fix a written-off car and give it the identity of a properly registered car with comparable specs. Replace the number plates, change the VIN, and create a fake logbook (V5C) to make the cloned car seem real.
Two almost similar cars, one legal and one illegal, end up on the road at the same time, putting unaware customers at legal and financial danger. Using a number plate checker during your inspection can help detect if a registration has been duplicated or misused.
How Common Is Car Cloning in the UK?
Although it may appear rare, car cloning is a rising UK crime. According to certain police estimates, 20% of cars may have cloned number plates.
Rising insurance costs and the cost-of-living problem have led more drivers to use fake plates to escape legal and financial penalties. Car cloning may result in fines, penalty points, or vehicle seizures for innocent drivers.
Car cloning figures are not published by the DVLA, although demand is mounting to do so.
Key Warning Signs Your Car Might Be a Clone
Avoid buying a cloned car by avoiding the following:
- Paying in Cash: Although simple, cash transactions are anonymous. Without evidence of purchase or ownership, a cloned car might lead to legal issues and financial loss.
- Chasing Unrealistic Bargains: All cars have a stable market value. You should be careful of cars priced more than 30% below market value. An offer that seems too good to be true may have hidden flaws or unlawful conduct.
- Meeting in Public Places: Beware of dealers who insist on meeting at car parks or gas stations. A reputable vendor may sell the car from home, where you can check registration and ownership.
Being vigilant and aware of these warning indicators may greatly lessen your chances of car cloning.
How Do Criminals Clone Vehicle Registrations?
Criminals often utilise online car details to clone number plates. Someone trying to hide a white Volkswagen Golf may search the internet for photographs of the same make, model, and colour.
After finding a clean, real car that matches their stolen or suspect one, they duplicate the registration information and get phoney plates. It hides the illegal vehicle's identify.
Criminals and fraudsters often clone cars to hide their identities. This further deception makes it harder for investigators to find the car or those responsible.
What Should I Do If I Suspect My Car Has Been Cloned?
A cloned car registration, especially if connected to a severe crime, might be concerning. Is your registration number duplicated? Act soon and follow these steps:
- Report the Incident to the Police: Report the cloning to the police immediately. Clarify the circumstances and describe the offence using your registration. Crime reference numbers are necessary for future contact.
- Collect Supporting Evidence: Gain as much proof as possible to show your car was not engaged in the crime. This may include:
· CCTV video from your house, business, or public spaces.
· Photos of your vehicle's position during the violation.
· Dated documents with your number plate, including parking receipts or toll records.
3. Contact the Issuing Authority: Contact the fine, penalty notice, or Notice of Intended Prosecution's issuing body. Inform them that your car was cloned and you did not commit the crime. Give the crime reference number and request photos. Carefully check the pictures for tiny variations like wheels, colour, or a driver who is not you. These variations might support your argument.
4. Contact the DVLA (if necessary): If the problem persists, contact the DVLA. They may give you a new registration number to avoid abuse.
Taking immediate action and providing complete documentation will help you avoid legal and financial ramifications of car cloning.
Steps to Prevent Car Cloning?
Online information has made car cloning simpler in recent years. Criminals may now search online for identical cars with visible registration numbers.
When posting images of your car on social media or selling it, blur or disguise your number plate to prevent cloning. This basic precaution makes it harder for fraudsters to replicate and fake your registration.
How Can I Avoid Buying a Cloned Car?
Unknowingly buying a cloned car is a major risk when buying a secondhand car. As said, criminals can easily steal the identification of a legal car and use it to conceal a stolen one. Having a cloned or stolen car, even if you purchased it in trust, is a severe crime. In such circumstances, the police might confiscate and return the car, costing you a lot of money.
Follow these measures to avoid purchasing a cloned car:
- Buy from a Reputable Dealer: Buying from a reputable dealership decreases risk. Dealers usually do extensive examinations and give warranties and return policies.
- Be Wary of Prices That Seem Too Good to Be True: Extremely cheap car prices may be a red flag. Criminals use low prices to convince buyers to act quickly without checking.
- Verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Verify that the car's VIN matches the V5C registration document. At the bottom of the windscreen or on the chassis is the VIN. If the numbers do not match or the VIN seems changed, do not buy.
Use a Cloned Car Check to Protect Yourself
Buying a used car requires extensive investigations to prevent car cloning. Checking for car cloning involves multiple steps:
1. Conduct an Online Vehicle Check: Verify the vehicle's history online using its registration number. This commonly involves a V5C (logbook) check against a database of stolen or duplicated logbooks to detect cloning concerns early.
2. Verify the V5C Logbook Details: Check that the logbook number plate matches the car plate. Double-check this carefully to see if there are any mistakes.
3. Check the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): The logbook VIN should match the vehicle VIN. Check various places, such as:
· Under the bonnet (engine bay)
· At the bottom of the windscreen (driver's side)
· On the driver's door sill or door frame
4. Confirm the Registered Address: The V5C logbook address should match the car's location, such as the same city or surrounding region. This ensures the car is sold by the rightful owner.
5. Understand the Car's Market Value: Know the average market value of the car you want. The asking price may be too low, indicating a speedy or suspicious selling. Ask why the seller is selling the car at such a low rate.
6. Avoid Paying in Cash: To avoid detection, cloners always prefer to deal in cash. Use safe, trackable payment methods. Avoid part-cash trades, particularly if the cash element is large.
7. Meet at the Registered Keeper's Address: Always visit and buy at the logbook keeper's address for private sales. Avoid meeting in neutral public places like fuel stations or car parks.
8. Report If You've Bought a Cloned Car: If you suspect or confirm buying a cloned car, notify your local authorities. On its website, the Metropolitan Police in London gives instructions for reporting cloned cars.
Additionally, carry out an MOT check as part of your research. This ensures the car's test history matches its mileage and identity.
Final Thoughts on Protecting Your Vehicle Identity
Car registration cloning happens when fraudsters clone a genuine vehicle's number plate and apply it to a stolen or illegally operated car to hide its identity. Duplicated car registrations may have severe consequences for innocent vehicle owners.
If you start getting fines, penalty letters, or legal correspondence for acts you did not commit, particularly from places you have not been, you may discover cloning. Report the incident to the police and seek a criminal reference number immediately. Share CCTV video, parking fines, and GPS data with the police and fine-issuing authorities to verify your car was not involved.
Avoid uploading images of your car with a number plate on social media or online classifieds to prevent copying. Always blur plates before posting.
FAQs
What should I do if my number plates are stolen?
Inform the police and DVLA about the theft immediately. Replace your plates from a respected supplier and watch for unusual registration activities.
What should I do if I suspect someone is selling a cloned car?
Cancel the purchase. Report your concerns to the police and include the seller and vehicle information.
Is it an offence to have cloned number plates?
Yes, using or having cloned number plates is illegal and may result in penalties, prosecution, or vehicle confiscation.
Why do criminals clone registration plates?
To hide stolen or illegal cars, conduct crimes, or escape fines, tolls, and speed cameras.
Can a cloned car affect my insurance premium?
Yes. You may face complications and higher insurance costs if you are linked to cloned plate violations.
