How taxi drivers and motorists hit by number plate cloning fraud are proving their innocence
- Perry Richardson
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Taxi drivers and other road users are being caught up in a growing number plate cloning problem, where criminals use stolen or illegally obtained registration numbers to hide the identity of vehicles used for criminal activity.
The scam involves copying number plates from an identical or near-identical vehicle and attaching them to another car. This cloned vehicle is then used in offences such as speeding, illegal parking, toll evasion and more serious crimes, leaving the innocent vehicle owner to deal with the legal consequences.
Victims often only become aware of the fraud when they begin receiving penalty notices for offences committed in locations they were never near. These can include speeding tickets, parking fines or charges from congestion zones like those operating in London. In some cases, it can take weeks or months before the driver realises what has happened.
Taxi and private hire drivers are particularly at risk due to the high visibility of their vehicles and the regular routes they travel. Their plates and vehicle details are often in public view for extended periods, making it easier for criminals to target them.
Proving that a vehicle has been cloned can be a difficult and time-consuming process. If the cloned vehicle is a close match in model, colour and appearance, enforcement cameras may not capture enough detail to distinguish between the original and the fake. Some enforcement systems only capture the number plate, without wider images of the vehicle or driver.
For drivers using app-based booking systems, there are ways to help establish their location at the time of the offence. Journey records, time-stamped job logs and GPS tracking can support claims that they were working in another area. This can be crucial in challenging penalties wrongly issued to them.
Taxi drivers can also use their licensing details as evidence. Regulator-issued ID cards and vehicle licence plates, which are typically displayed inside and outside the cab, provide official proof of identity. However, the small print on these identifiers is not always visible to traffic cameras, meaning they cannot always be used to stop a cloned vehicle being wrongly linked to a legitimate driver.
Some drivers have turned to using personalised window stickers, unique markings or other identifiers on their vehicle that are difficult for a fraudster to replicate. These can be useful when challenging enforcement action by showing clear visual differences between the genuine vehicle and the clone.
Authorities advise that if a driver believes their vehicle has been cloned, they should report the matter to the police and DVLA immediately. They should also keep records of their work or movements to help prove their innocence. Failure to act quickly could lead to more fines and longer delays in clearing their name.
As the number of cloning cases continues to grow, many in the taxi trade are calling for improvements in enforcement technology. Better image capture, clearer footage and stronger links between traffic systems and licensing records could help reduce the impact of this type of fraud.
