Car Cloning Scams: How Criminals Clone Cars and How to Protect Yourself

Car cloning is a growing problem in the UK. Understanding how it works helps you avoid becoming a victim.

What is Car Cloning?

Car cloning involves giving a stolen car the identity of a legitimate vehicle. Criminals:

1. Steal a desirable car
2. Find a similar legitimate car (same make, model, colour, year)
3. Copy the legitimate car's registration plates
4. Create fake or altered VIN plates
5. Produce fake documents or alter genuine ones
6. Sell the cloned car to an unsuspecting buyer

Why Cloning Works

Basic checks can show the cloned car as "clean" because:

• The registration exists on DVLA records (it's real, just belongs to another car)
• MOT history shows passes (for the legitimate car)
• Tax is up to date (on the legitimate car)
• No stolen marker (the stolen car's original plates have the marker)

Types of Cloning

Plate Cloning

Simply copying the registration plates of a similar legitimate car. Easiest to execute but also easiest to detect with physical inspection.

Full Identity Swap

More sophisticated – replacing VIN plates and documents to completely assume another car's identity.

Ring

Professional criminals create multiple clones of the same identity, selling them in different parts of the country.

How to Spot a Cloned Car

Physical Checks

VIN Plate Inspection

• Look for signs of tampering, scraping, or replacement
• Check rivets look original (not replaced)
• Compare VIN on windscreen, door pillar, and engine bay – all should match

Check VIN Against Documents

• VIN on V5C must match all VINs on the car
• Look up VIN online to check make/model matches

Examine the V5C

• Check watermark and security features
• Does issue date make sense for car's age?
• Is seller the registered keeper?

Documentation Checks

• Service history – VIN on service stamps should match
• Insurance documents – Check VIN if available
• Previous MOT certificates – VIN should match

Circumstantial Red Flags

• Seller not the registered keeper
• Won't let you view at home address
• Price significantly below market
• Reluctant to let you take photos or check VIN
• Pushing for quick cash sale

Vehicle History Checks and Cloning

A standard vehicle check queries the registration number. For a cloned car, this returns the clean history of the legitimate donor car.

To catch cloning, also:

• Physically verify VINs match the V5C
• Check the VIN against online decoders to verify make/model
• View at the address on the V5C

Run a vehicle check as part of your verification process.

What If You've Bought a Cloned Car?

If you discover your car is cloned:

1. Don't drive it – It's stolen property
2. Contact police immediately
3. You'll lose the car – It will be returned to the rightful owner
4. Report to Action Fraud
5. Claim on insurance – If you have suitable cover
6. Pursue the seller – Usually difficult as they've disappeared

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Protecting yourself from cloning requires multiple checks:

1. Run a vehicle history check using the registration
2. Physically verify VINs match V5C and each other
3. View at the V5C address
4. Verify seller is registered keeper
5. Trust your instincts – if something feels wrong, walk away

Start with a vehicle check for £9.99 – it's your first line of defence.