Drivers have been warned of a rise in popular car crimes which risk causing "serious legal and financial consequences" for victims.
It comes after experts found a concerning rise in car cloning reports across London, which leaves victims at risk of penalties.
Car cloning involves criminals putting genuine number plates on different vehicles, which can help them evade prosecution for crimes committed in the vehicle, all the while the real owner of the plates ends up racking up hefty penalties.
Now, experts have urged drivers to avoid posting images of their car online and park in garages when possible to minimise the risk of car cloning.
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Cloned number plates can result in drivers paying more for car insurance premiums
GETTYAccording to research, there has been a 64 per cent surge in car cloning in London alone, with drivers left out of pocket due to the incidents.
Cloned plates are also sold through online market platforms like Amazon and eBay, which currently do not require a legal check, unlike the official DVLA website.
Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone, said: "The sharp rise in car cloning across London is very worrying and highlights a need for more awareness around the crime, as all drivers are susceptible to this growing type of fraud.
"Car cloning is not just a minor inconvenience - it can have serious legal and financial consequences for victims, who often find themselves receiving fines or penalty points for offences they had no part in."
Drivers have been urged to only purchase licence plates from official sites, including the DVLA website
GETTYHe warned that in some cases, people have "unknowingly" bought cloned vehicles, resulting in the driver losing both their car and the money they paid for it.
Wilson warned that cloned plates can also increase the number of penalty points a driver has on their licence, which in turn can increase insurance premiums from five per cent to as much as 25 per cent, depending on the number of points accrued.
To help avoid being impacted by car cloning, the expert has urged drivers to park in a garage whenever possible or use a car cover which blocks the number plate from being visible.
Drivers should also take care not to post online images of vehicles, including number plates, which can make cars more susceptible to criminals.
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For motorists who buy plates online, they should make sure they check all car details beforehand, Wilson stated. This includes making sure all VINs on the vehicle match each other and those in the logbook.
"Anyone concerned they may be buying a cloned car should run the registration number, make and model of the car through the DVLA's vehicle enquiry service," Wilson said.
He added: "Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent car cloning, but there are ways motorists can minimise the risk.
"It's also not sensible to share pictures of your vehicle online where the number plate is clearly visible – social media can be a goldmine for those looking to illegally copy registration details."
Car cloning has seen a sharp rise across London in the past few years
PAOutside of London, car cloning has been on the rise in Kent, with reports finding a 37 per cent increase over four years, with 1,120 cases reported in 2024 compared with 815 in 2020.
Chief Superintendent Rob Marsh from Kent Police shared: "In relation to number plate thefts, people are clearly using them to commit other crimes such as whether it's to avoid congestion charging, other road toll fees, whether it's to do with making off without paying for fuel."
Wilson explained that car insurance companies cannot prevent car cloning, but if a driver thinks they have fallen victim to the scam, they should contact the relevant authorities.
"If you suspect your vehicle has been cloned, it’s important to report it to the police, DVLA and your insurer immediately and consider getting a new registration number," Wilson noted.
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