Drivers in UK warned as thousands are being wrongly fined

South Wales Argus

17-07-2025

New data has revealed a surge in car cloning in the UK over the past five years, with motoring experts warning the crisis is now spiralling.
Criminals typically use cloned plates to commit further crimes, including stealing fuel from petrol stations, evading tolls or fleeing the scenes of accidents.
As a result, it is the innocent drivers who have had their number plates cloned who end up with fines, insurance claims, or letters from the police.
(Image: KevinHolt/Getty)
Valuation specialists at BigWantsYourCar.com, one of the UK's leading car-buying platforms, say the crime is not only damaging innocent motorists' finances and reputations, but also undermining trust in vehicle ownership systems.
The experts said: 'Car cloning is fast becoming one of the most distressing issues facing ordinary drivers.
'The worst part is how quickly this issue can snowball. One cloned plate can lead to police letters, insurance claims, even blacklisting from fuel stations – all to someone who's done nothing wrong."
BigWantsYourCar.com also warned that cloning disproportionately affects drivers who own high-demand cars such as German makes or premium SUVs – which are frequently cloned by criminals looking to avoid detection.
They said: 'We'd advise drivers of popular models like the BMW 3 Series, VW Golf, or Mercedes GLA to be especially cautious.
'These are among the most commonly cloned vehicles because they're everywhere – and that makes it easier for a cloned version to blend in."
These are the best ways to keep yourself safe from car cloning:
Reporting any lost or stolen number plates immediately
Using anti-theft number plate screws
Regularly checking their vehicle record on the DVLA website
Keeping a log of any unusual fines or driving correspondence
When buying or selling a car, it's crucial to check for anything that seems off – including mismatched documents, suspicious plate bolts, or unusual recent traffic fines.
Common speed camera myths
Here are some other common speed camera myths:
Is it true that speed vans have to be visible at all times?
No. There are no laws about visibility, so nothing is stopping an officer from operating in the dark. But they don't often choose to do this and maintain that being visible acts as a deterrent in its own right.
Go Safe Casualty Reduction Officer, Gareth Thomas said: "Legally, we don't have to be visible. I could camouflage myself if I wanted to - but it's all about being fair, education and preventing an accident. Even if I parked my van and went for a walk somewhere, it would deter people from speeding right away."
Is it illegal to flash your headlights to alert motorists of a GoSafe speed van?
If drivers choose to flash to warn others about a speed van, they could be in breach of the law. Under section 89 of the Police Act 1997 it is an offence to "wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty".
However, Gareth says while it is an offence, it is very difficult to prove. He said: "It doesn't bother me that people flash to warn them of the speed van - I just want to educate people and the van to act as a speed deterrent."
What happens if I am caught speeding?
It all comes down to the circumstances within which you were caught speeding, and how much you were more than the limit. The minimum penalty for being caught speeding on the UK's roads is a £100 fine.
But Gareth explained in some circumstances, police can offer the option of attending a speed awareness course - an alternative to a fine and penalty points. Gareth, said: "An accredited course is far more likely to improve driver behaviour and consequently make our roads safer.
"Courses are available to drivers who respond quickly to the 'notices' and who were driving at no more than 10 per cent, plus 9 mph above the posted speed limit."
So for example, anyone travelling over 86mph on a motorway would not be offered the awareness course. Those who don't have a clean licence at the time of the office, or if you have been on the course in the last three years, it is unlikely you will be offered the awareness course as an option.