The private numberplate company Absolute Reg has urged motorists not to be a victim of car cloning as vehicle crime rates continue to increase.
As the ’24’ set of number plates are released, many drivers buying a new car will be excited to share that their latest car is up to the minute by posting a photo of it on social media.
Jake Smith, Director of Absolute Reg, warned that car cloning could continue to rise with the rollout of ANPR cameras that can fine drivers of older, uncompliant vehicles in clean air zones by checking their number plate.
He advised: “Number plate cloning is a growing problem that puts drivers at risk of being falsely accused of crimes. Because of the increased use of ANPR cameras on the roads, we expect the car cloning cases to rise even more, as criminals want to avoid charges, such as the recent ULEZ charges in London.
“No one is safe from cloning criminals, so it’s important to be vigilant and take preventative measures to avert falling victim to getting your car cloned or unknowingly buying a cloned vehicle.”
Car cloning is when a criminal creates a copy of the number plates already registered to a car in order to fit them to another vehicle.
Typically, these cloned cars are used to help drivers steer clear of fines, such as speeding, which will be sent to the address of the original numberplate’s address.
However, in some cases, cloned numberplates are fitted to stolen cars so that they can be more difficult for police officers to spot.
Jake noted that the easiest way in which drivers can prevent their car from being cloned is by making it more difficult for others to know their number plate.
He continued: “It’s particularly important to be careful online. If sharing pictures of your car on social media, always blur or obscure the number plate before posting.
“It’s also worth investing in anti-theft screws for your number plate, as well as paying attention to where you park.”
Absolute Reg advised any driver who believes their vehicle’s numberplate has been cloned to get in touch with the police and DVLA immediately.
The company noted that drivers may wish to consider getting another number plate in order to avoid being fined for offences that they have not committed.
In addition, motorists could fit a dashcam to their vehicle, with many of the latest examples featuring motion sensors to detect anything occurring around the car.
