BNMA Discussed Proposals on BBC Breakfast for Secure Number Plates to Combat Rising Car Cloning
The BNMA is proposing more secure number plates, designed to protect the supply chain and restrict the rise of vehicle number plate cloning
13 October 2026
BBC Breakfast has covered the issue of number plate cloning this morning (13/10/2026), specifically around examples of how criminals have targeted victims. Jon Kay and Sally Nugent reported on the issue and discussed with Michael Flanagan, chair of the BNMA, around the proposals to make number plates more secure.
Car cloning is an issue whereby criminals copy details from a vehicle that is genuine, and apply them to another car, which can be a stolen vehicle or a vehicle where they could commit crimes or avoid tax. Cloning can include the number plate registration and VIN number. This can lead to victims of car cloning receiving fines, penalty points and even criminal investigations. The issue is on the rise as police are seeing more cloned cars on the road.
The piece indicated that in the UK, a car is stolen roughly every 10 mins, with recent figures showing an 8% rise. Criminals are not only cloning plates, but they are also faking logbooks and changing VIN numbers. Even if all the VIN numbers match, it is advised to look out for further red flags, such as the price and the seller evading with questions, as the car could still be cloned.
Three examples were reported, where one victim had their car stolen outside their home whilst they were on holiday. He was later informed by police that the vehicle was still being driven around under cloned plates. Another victim had her car cloned and received penalty points and fines, some of the fines dated whilst she was outside the country. One victim unknowingly bought a cloned campervan, even after checking the tax, MOT and insurance, which appeared legitimate.
Michael Flanagan stated that a report from the “All-Party Parliamentary Group determined that 1 in 15 cars on the road could bear illegal number plates and they are almost impossible to identify which ones are legitimate.”
“The BNMA are working with the Department for Transport and DVLA officials to propose a more secure number plate. Number plates are like identity documents, and we are proposing that they house the same technology as the likes of debit cards, passports and driving licenses. This can include holograms, barcodes, traceability markings and a nearfield communications device.
Serious criminals have access to illegal number plate suppliers, and the proposition is to secure the entire supply chain, from materials manufacturers to the selling outlet. For the first time in 15 years, a government minister invited our trade association to join him and DVLA officials in presenting our proposals, but we want to see concrete action because the problem is growing at a scale that is incredible.”