Why Are Thieves Targeting Number Plates?

Jessica Bird | Saturday 16th August 2025 8:45am

Someone unscrewing a number plate

Regent figures show that around 27,000 number plates are stolen each year in the UK - that’s over 70 per day. But why?

After a number plate is stolen, what happens to it, and why are they stolen in the first place? From evading tolls to concealing more dangerous criminal activity, there are plenty of motives behind number plate theft.

Read on to find out more about the reasons behind number plate theft, and learn what to do should your number plate get stolen.

Why do people steal number plates?

As pieces of plastic, number plates themselves are not inherently valuable in the same way as, say, catalytic converters are. It’s more the criminal potential that number plates can offer that causes them to be stolen. 

After a criminal has obtained stolen number plates, they can use these instead of their own plates to commit all manner of crimes undetected, evading the law. 

1. Avoiding driving charges

By using stolen number plates (which are not connected to their bank accounts or addresses), criminals can avoid paying fees such as tolls, congestion charges (like ULEZ), or parking fees. Instead, this charge is sent through to the unwitting owner of the stolen plate, who has to cough up or face charges!

2. Concealing criminal activity

Stolen number plates are often used to prevent a driver or a vehicle from being traced while committing further criminal activity, such as robberies, trespassing, drug trafficking, ram-raiding, drink driving, not paying for petrol, or driving without tax and insurance.

Using a stolen plate makes it much harder for law enforcement to track down the real perpetrators, often causing havoc for the owner of the stolen plates.

3. Vehicle cloning

Number plates are sometimes stolen for the purpose of vehicle cloning, where a “clone” car is used to carry out further crimes, or is sold on to buyers who are none the wiser.

What can happen if your number plate is stolen?

If you’re unlucky enough to have your number plate stolen, you need to stay vigilant and be aware of what might happen if your plate is used for criminal activity. 

  • You may receive unexpected fines or penalties. This suggests that your number plate is being used for evading tolls or parking/congestion charges, or being driven by a dangerous driver. If this is the case, you will need to challenge these charges, possibly in court. 
  • You may encounter legal trouble. Police or local authorities may attempt to contact you with regards to a criminal investigation or illegal activity, suggesting that your plate has been used on a car carrying out criminal acts, like drunk driving or robberies. 
  • Your insurance may get more expensive. If your plate gets stolen, your premiums may increase as your vehicle becomes a higher risk in the eyes of your insurer.
uk police station

What should you do if someone steals your number plate?

In the unfortunate event that your number plate is stolen, there are a series of steps you’ll need to carry out to make sure you’re covered against the above. But first, stay calm; this happens to lots of people, and is a controllable matter. 

1. Report the theft to the police

First of all, you should report this theft to the police as it is a crime. You can either call 101 or your local police station and tell them what happened. The police will provide you with a crime reference number that you should keep safe, as it is essential for further reporting. 

2. Notify the DVLA of your stolen number plate

Secondly, the DVLA must be informed. Visit the Contact DVLA page on the GOV.UK website and answer the question: “What do you need to contact DVLA about?” (Your answer should be, “Vehicle registration and V5C certificates (log books)”). 

From here, you’ll be presented with a number of contact options, including by phone, webchat, email, or post. How you inform them is up to you, but it is essential that they know so they can take action.

3. Inform your insurance provider

You’ll also need to tell your insurance provider that your number plate has been stolen, so that they have full context if your stolen plates are used in any criminal or dangerous activity. 

4. Get new number plates

You’ll then need to quickly replace your number plates, as driving without any is illegal. You can find a number of online number plate sellers, but you should triple-check that they are legal and reputable before purchasing. GOV.UK’s number plate supplier checker can help with this. 

When ordering a replacement number plate, you’ll need to provide:

  • Proof of your identity
  • Evidence of your right to display the registration number (including your driving license and V5C logbook).

When replacing your number plate, you can opt for a new number or the same one. 

How to prevent your number plate from being stolen

While there is no guaranteed way to stop someone from taking advantage of your unattended car, there are some preventative measures you can take that will work to deter them from running away with your plates:

Anti-theft screws

You can use specialist anti-theft screws when installing your number plate. These are much more difficult for thieves to remove quickly as they require specific removal tools, so they may well deter an opportunistic criminal looking for a quick plate swipe.

Locking plate frames

You can install frames that surround the edges of your number plate and secure them to your vehicle. These make it very difficult for thieves to prize your plates off your bumper without damage, acting as a deterrent. 

One thing to note: you should never obscure your number plate figures with frames or security attachments. So, when shopping for frames, make sure they are  compliant with plate-displaying legislation.

Keep your vehicle safe with Kwik Fit

Vehicle safety is as much about deterring thieves as it is about making sure your car is safe for you to drive in the first place. For instant peace of mind, book your car in for a free vehicle safety check at your local Kwik Fit

We’ll check your tyres, brakes, and other vitals, so you know your car is always in top-notch condition. For more advice on securing your vehicle, stay tuned to our blog

Tags : Advice Law

Any facts, figures and prices shown in our blog articles are correct at time of publication.




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