DVLA issues urgent number plate warning as thousands of motorists could 'lose entitlement'

The Agency questioned whether drivers owned a unique number plate that was not attributed to a vehicle.

It stated: "If it's been 10 years since the latest certificate or retention document for your registration was issued, you may need to renew it this year."

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The warning impacts drivers who were issued a certificate or retention document for their personalised registration number 10 years ago.

If the latest document was delivered a decade ago, motorists may need to renew it this year, which is free to do.

The DVLA encourages Britons to check their documents and find out when the expiry date is for the personalised registration.

If the registration has never been assigned to a vehicle, owners will need to check the V750 certificate, allowing them to renew online through the DVLA's accounts.

In the event that it was previously assigned to a vehicle, but is now on retention, drivers will need to check the V778 retention document and renew it by post.

However, if the personalised registration is assigned to a vehicle, motorists do not need to take any action.

The earliest someone can apply for a renewal is 28 days before the expiry date.

If drivers fail to adhere to these rules and they do not renew before the expiry, they will lose entitlement to the registration number.

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Motorists can also face issues with their number plates if they fail to adhere to particular road rules.

Driving with an obscured number plate can result in a fine of up to £1,000, and the car may fail its MOT test.

Number plates can also lead to drivers being hit with a £100 fine if they are illegally tinted, which can be more common with a personalised licence.

Similarly, so-called "ghost" number plates are also illegal and carry a £100 fine from the police.

This is when the licence plate is illegally altered to obscure the numbers and letters from speed and road enforcement cameras.

Sarah Coombes MP has called for the Government to crack down on ghost or "stealth" plates, as she warned that motorists were taking advantage of the method to drive dangerously.

The Labour MP for West Bromwich has called for new fines worth up to £1,000 to be introduced to deter Britons from investing in the illegal plates.

She added: "The drivers using these ghost plates have gone under the radar for too long, but now they've been rumbled and it's time to crack down on them."