Sharp rise in stolen and cloned plates

• Stolen number plate reports have risen 119% in five years, while cloned plate incidents are up 53%
• Stolen plate reports jumped by almost a third (30%) in the past year alone
• In 2025, an average of 51 number plates were reported stolen or cloned every day
• Drivers are urged to use tamper‑resistant number plate screws and report any theft or suspected cloning immediately to the police, the DVLA and their insurer

New research¹ by Churchill motor insurance reveals an alarming rise in stolen and cloned number plates across the UK.

Between 2021 and 2025, reports of stolen number plates more than doubled, rising by 119% to 7,381. Over the same period, notifications of cloned number plates increased by 53% to 11,394. In 2025 alone, stolen plate reports were up 30% year on year.

Table one: Number of stolen and cloned vehicle number plates reported to the DVLA

Source: Churchill motor insurance, 2026

The figures underline the growing scale of number plate‑related fraud and the risks faced by innocent motorists across the country.

Number plates are typically stolen or cloned to facilitate criminal activity, evade detection by police cameras, avoid parking fines or speeding tickets, disguise stolen vehicles, or bypass congestion and toll charges.

While a stolen number plate is usually noticed quickly, cloned plates can go undetected for months. Many drivers only realise their plate has been cloned when fines, penalty notices or speeding tickets start arriving, or when the police or DVLA make contact.

Anyone who believes their number plate has been stolen or cloned should report it immediately to the Police, DVLA and their insurer. The police will issue a crime reference number, which is essential when challenging fines or penalties. The DVLA will also place a marker on the vehicle record to help prevent further misuse.

Kevin Mead, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “It’s concerning to see that reports of stolen and cloned are increasing so rapidly. It’s a worrying trend that continues to cause significant stress and disruption for innocent drivers who are left dealing with months of inconvenience as they try to challenge penalties and clear their name.

“Using tamper‑resistant screws for number plates can help reduce the risk, but if a plate is stolen or suspected to be cloned, swift action is essential. Drivers should report it immediately to the police, inform the DVLA, and alert their insurer to help limit further impact.”

                                                                                      ENDS

Notes to Editors

¹          Freedom of Information request to the DVLA to find the number of stolen and cloned number plates reported to the DVLA. Please note, the cloned figures includes instances of potential misidentification of VRNs by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

For further information please contact:

Unni Henry

Churchill PR Manager

Email: unni.henry@aviva.com

Churchill

About Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line and is part of the Aviva Group.

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200 300 or visiting www.churchill.com