What are ‘ghost’ and ‘cloned’ plates – and what can you do to protect yourself?

When the BBC aired its documentary Ghost Plates: Drivers Cheating the Law on 28th September 2026 it wasn’t an early Halloween ‘Spooky Special’. Instead reporter Rahil Sheikh and the Panorama team were revealing the epidemic of ‘Ghost’ and ‘Cloned’ number plates on our roads.

Recent reports by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport and Safety (APPGTS) indicate that roughly 1 in 15 vehicles on UK roads may now display some form of modified or illegal plate.

The reasons for driving with a false number plate include evading parking or Clean Air Zone charges, and speeding penalties. Use of the plates also has strong links to organised crime, such as fuel theft and drug dealing.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

What are cloned and ghost plates?

Cloning is when a plate with a duplicate registration number is placed on a vehicle of the same make and model. Often the first inkling the owner has that their plate has been cloned is when speeding notices, parking and ULEZ fines start arriving.

Ghost plates have their identifying numbers and letters covered with a special film, or are made out of specialised materials so that although they appear normal to the human eye, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras aren’t able to read them properly as some or all of the characters will be blank or faded.

Ghost plates are worryingly easy to purchase. They can be tracked down online and the Panorama team found a market stall in Essex selling these illegal plates for just £40 cash and no questions asked.

Drivers using ghost plates are more likely to drive recklessly as they have less fear of detection and this can result in serious road accidents.

What’s being done about ghost plates?

There are calls to make the consequences for using ghost plates more severe. Currently it is a £100 on-the-spot fine with no penalty points, but road safety campaigners are calling for fines of up to £1,000 and six penalty points to act as a more significant deterrent.

Meanwhile, the APPGTS has outlined a few recommendations in its report that could also help reduce the number of problem plates on the road:

1. Reducing the number of licensed plate sellers and introducing annual fees.
2. Raising production standards, including banning 3D and 4D plates.
3. Standardising plate design to improve security and prevent tampering.

So, how can drivers protect themselves?

Here are some quick tips and tricks to help you navigate this growing issue:

1. Make sure your number plate meets current legal standards – reflective, with no tampering.
2. Only buy number plates from licensed, reputable sellers. Avoid private or unverified sources.
3. If you see a plate that looks altered, duplicated, or tampered with, report this to the local authorities.
4. Keep your V5C logbook and ID safe to reduce the risk of cloning.
5. Follow government or motoring association advice on number plate regulations and updates.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.