28/09/2026: BBC Breakfast and Panorama "Ghost plates are the tip of the iceberg."
Tonight's Panorama is on Ghost Plates: Drivers Cheating the Law. The integrity of vehicle registration is something most motorists never think about until it goes wrong.
Illegal and misused number plates have been the focus of significant BBC coverage this week. The issue featured on BBC Breakfast, Panorama: Ghost Plates: Drivers Cheating the Law and BBC Morning Live, bringing renewed attention to the challenges faced by the number plate industry, enforcement agencies and policymakers.
On BBC Breakfast, BNMA member Jonathan Hartley described ghost plates as "the tip of the iceberg". He highlighted concerns that regulations governing number plate supply have changed little since the early 2000s, creating opportunities for abuse and making it easier for criminals to exploit the system.
Later that day, Panorama: Ghost Plates: Drivers Cheating the Law investigated the growing market for illegally supplied and altered number plates. The programme examined how ghost plates, cloned registrations and other forms of plate misuse can undermine road safety, hinder enforcement activity and reduce public confidence in the vehicle registration system.
The subject returned to national television on BBC Morning Live, which further explored the methods used to evade detection and highlighted the importance of obtaining replacement number plates through legitimate, registered suppliers. The programme also reinforced the role that proper identity and entitlement checks play in protecting the integrity of the system.
The BNMA welcomes the attention these programmes have brought to an issue that has long been a concern for the legitimate number plate industry. Increased public awareness is an important step towards tackling illegal plate supply, improving compliance and supporting effective enforcement.
The programmes highlighted that the vast majority of number plate suppliers operate legally and responsibly.
The challenge lies in tackling the small minority who seek to circumvent the rules and enable criminal activity. Addressing that challenge requires robust enforcement, proportionate regulation and ongoing cooperation between industry, government and enforcement agencies.
The BNMA has worked with the DVLA and other government bodies for many years to improve standards, strengthen compliance and protect the integrity of the number plate system. We will continue to work collaboratively with policymakers, enforcement agencies and industry stakeholders to deliver practical solutions that work for industry, enforcers and the public alike.
Together, these programmes have helped bring an important issue into the national spotlight. The BNMA remains committed to ensuring that legitimate suppliers are supported, the registration system retains public confidence, and criminal misuse of number plates becomes increasingly difficult.
Both Panorama: Ghost Plates: Drivers Cheating the Law and the related television coverage are available on BBC iPlayer: