Cloned plates / identity theft — V23 process and police report

Where a clone of your registration plate has been used on another vehicle and you are receiving NTKs/charges for events your vehicle was not at: (1) report to police as a crime (action fraud reference); (2) submit DVLA form V23 (Reporting use of another's vehicle registration mark) — DVLA can flag the cloned VRM; (3) gather alibi evidence — toll records, parking receipts elsewhere, dashcam, GPS tracker logs, employer attendance, fuel receipts; (4) demand the operator's photograph and compare make/model/colour/distinctive features. The operator's evidence will normally show a different vehicle.

Legal basis

DVLA process: V23 / VIC; Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 s.43 (offence of using number plate that is not registered); Fraud Act 2006 s.2 (false representation); PoFA 2012 Sch 4 para 4(2) (vehicle stolen / cloned defence)

How to identify this in your case

You have a NTK for a place you weren't; operator's photo shows a different make/model/colour vehicle; you can prove your alibi.

Sample appeal wording

Dear [OPERATOR], Re: NTK [REF] — Vehicle [REG] alleged at [LOCATION] on [DATE] I am the registered keeper of vehicle [REG]. I was not at the alleged location on the alleged date. My vehicle's registration plate has been cloned. Evidence: 1. Photograph of my vehicle showing it is [MAKE/MODEL/COLOUR/DISTINCTIVE FEATURES] — your photograph shows a different vehicle (compare attached). 2. [Toll record / Dashcam / GPS / Employer attendance / Fuel receipt] placing me/my vehicle at [OTHER LOCATION] at the alleged time. 3. Police crime reference [NUMBER] reported on [DATE]. 4. DVLA V23 reported on [DATE]; reference [NUMBER]. Under UK GDPR Art 5(1)(d) my data is inaccurate as to the alleged event. Under PoFA 2012 Sch 4 para 4 you have no claim against me as keeper of the actual vehicle parked, because the actual vehicle is not mine. I require: (a) Immediate cancellation of the charge; (b) A copy under UK GDPR Art 15 of all photographs and ANPR images of vehicle bearing plate [REG] held by you; (c) Confirmation no debt-collection or court action; (d) That you cooperate with the police investigation by retaining the evidence under the data preservation principles. Yours faithfully, [NAME]

Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.

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Sources

VERA 1994 s.43
Fraud Act 2006 s.2
PoFA 2012 Sch 4 para 4(2)
DVLA V23 form