I run Protect A Plate, a small London company building a network that stops number plate cloning at the source. In August 2026 our system blocked two attempted clone orders and reported them to the DVLA. Two attempts in one month, at one small company.

Anyone can buy number plate making equipment. There is no rule saying you have to be a registered supplier to own the kit. The DVLA received 11,394 reports of number plate cloning in 2025, around 31 a day. A Guardian investigation in June 2025 found more than 130 registered suppliers willing to skip the checks. Cloned plates leave innocent drivers facing fines and police investigations for crimes they never committed.

The law already requires registered suppliers to check entitlement before making a plate. The equipment itself is unregulated. The government is currently reviewing penalties, MOT checks and background checks for suppliers. None of that touches who can own the machinery.

We want the government to make it a criminal offence to possess number plate making equipment unless you are registered under the Register of Number Plate Suppliers, with a reasonable excuse defence for genuine exemptions.

Stop the cloned plates where they're made. 

5,683

number plates reported stolen in 2024, up 68% since 2021

Source: DVLA 

11,394

cloning reports received by the DVLA in 2025, about 31 a day, up 54% since 2020

Source: DVLA

Our Mission — Proactive, Not Reactive
 
 
Too often, motorists discover that their vehicle registration may have been cloned only after receiving an unexpected speeding notice, parking charge, toll charge or other correspondence. 
If you are concerned about your plate being cloned maybe consider protecting it. Go to www.protect-a-plate.co.uk today and see how we can help. CALLING ALL LEGITIMATE NUMBER PLATE SUPPLIERS. If you want to be seen doing the right thing, sign up as a trusted and verified member today it’s free and once verified you will be added to a trusted supplier network. What have you got to lose ?