How to avoid cloned plates - advice please.
How to avoid cloned plates - advice please.
Author
Discussion

texaxile

Original Poster:

3,624 posts

171 months

Yesterday (19:55)
quotequote all
Just reaching out to the best way to avoid or, in the event of an NIP arriving, defend against cloned plates.

It's happened to a close friend lately, easily (and a big shout out to Suffolk Constabulary for dealing with it so efficiently) remedied by pics of the car and distinguishing features (turned out the cloned car was a different colour entirely).

It's been suggested private plates, but are there cheaper and easier alternative methods?.

When my friend replied to the NIP, the Police asked for photo's of the vehicle and any distinguishing features.

This really applies to my daughter, as my daily is an Impreza so not really likely to be cloned. FWIW I've told her to make sure the dashcam is always on, which I think would be the best method, but guess what - teenager decides to plug iphone in instead of dashcam most of the time.*

  • see Wiki entry on teenage rebellion.
TIA.

996Type

1,028 posts

173 months

Yesterday (19:57)
quotequote all
Got my plate stolen, police had me attach a strip of black tape diagonally across the corner to differentiate it from the thief’s car who was running around clocking up free passes to ULEZ etc….

paul_c123

1,616 posts

14 months

Yesterday (20:36)
quotequote all
Would a cheap (like, really cheap......£80-100) private plate still do the job of deterring?

limpsfield

6,504 posts

274 months

Yesterday (20:39)
quotequote all
Keep your car locked up in a garage and never drive it?

I don't think there is much you can do, I never worry about it. If it happens then deal with it then.

Super Sonic

11,688 posts

75 months

Yesterday (21:03)
quotequote all
Get your daughter one of them double fag lighter adaptors so she can keep her dashcam plugged in even when she's charging her phone. And a sticker to put on the back of her car.

Simpo Two

90,796 posts

286 months

Yesterday (21:06)
quotequote all
texaxile said:
It's been suggested private plates, but are there cheaper and easier alternative methods?
I don't see why that would work - it could still be cloned.

RSTurboPaul

12,686 posts

279 months

Yesterday (21:46)
quotequote all
Any plate could be cloned - arguably those who would do so are looking to blend in, so perhaps a more memorable and/or obviously shorter (fewer characters) private plate might be a deterrent (albeit quite an expensive option).

The Gauge

6,089 posts

34 months

Yesterday (22:04)
quotequote all
The other year I kept receiving fines in the post from the council for my car contravening bus gates etc. The photos were of a car exactly the same as mine, but the font of the number plate was slightly different, and the screw holes in a different place. I challenged each one and provided proof via their website, and won each one. But it was clear these fines would continue and was only a matter of time before the cloning car had hit and run RTC.

I went on the DVLA website and paid £80 to instantly receive a new registration number, it would have been free if I wrote to them them with an explanation but I didn't have enough time to wait. I then bought some new numberplates but with a GB flag on, which I hope the cloners won't replicate if doing this again.

BertBert

20,777 posts

232 months

Yesterday (22:47)
quotequote all
Someone should invent MFA for car registration.

Something like a coded QR code of the car reg plus v5 details. Stick the code on the neck of the car as a sticker.

Or something like that!

leyorkie

1,772 posts

197 months

Yesterday (22:58)
quotequote all
Any window sticker works, eg suppling garage in rear window, parking permit in front. Anything large enough to be seen but the person cloning wouldn't know.

Simpo Two

90,796 posts

286 months

Yesterday (23:03)
quotequote all
BertBert said:
Something like a coded QR code of the car reg plus v5 details. Stick the code on the neck of the car as a sticker.
I've never had a car with a neck...

fooman

1,012 posts

85 months

Yesterday (23:15)
quotequote all
BertBert said:
Someone should invent MFA for car registration.

Something like a coded QR code of the car reg plus v5 details. Stick the code on the neck of the car as a sticker.

Or something like that!
Matching RFID in car somewhere plod can read, if it's missing or doesn't match plate, impound. Pretty easy to retrofit camera sites to scan RFIDs at same time too.

CoolHands

21,986 posts

216 months

Yesterday (23:23)
quotequote all
File it in the don’t worry about it drawer.

hidetheelephants

33,002 posts

214 months

leyorkie said:
Any window sticker works, eg suppling garage in rear window, parking permit in front. Anything large enough to be seen but the person cloning wouldn't know.
Good, but a bit dull; lairy racing stripes would be more amusing or perhaps a retro sun strip with their name on it? hehe


texaxile

Original Poster:

3,624 posts

171 months

hidetheelephants said:
Good, but a bit dull; lairy racing stripes would be more amusing or perhaps a retro sun strip with their name on it? hehe

Have a biggrinbiggrinbiggrinbiggrin

Daughter's name isn't Sharon but I think it's worth it just for the giggle.