New Government Number Plate Proposals Risk Fueling Illegal supply
With MPs warning this week about the explosion of "ghost plates", cloning, and illegal number plate sellers, the timing of a proposal to ban certain plate styles has raised concern across the industry. Experts warn that while illegal plate crime is surging, a ban on compliant plates could unintentionally strengthen the underground trade already highlighted in Sky News and Independent investigations.
09/12/2025News
This coincides with the imminent closure of a draft number plate regulation re-write. Industry members, motorists, and compliance professionals are
being strongly encouraged to respond by 13th December.
Fresh Warnings from MPs and Police
This week, it has been widely reported in the press that a parliamentary committee urged a shake-up of the UK’s vehicle registration system after
reports of widespread cloning, illegal online sales, and “ghost plates” designed to defeat ANPR cameras.
MPs described the system as “too easily exploited” and highlighted cases where motorists received dozens of fines for vehicles they did not own or
drive.
“This week’s reports underline exactly why enforcement, not bans, should be the priority. Ghost plates and cloned registrations come overwhelmingly
from illegal suppliers. The proposed ban risks targeting the wrong issue entirely.”
Antony Clark of VRM Swansea, Plates4Less.
British Standards for Number Plates Under Review
Alongside the current national focus on illegal plates, the British Standard for number plates, BS AU 145e, is also under formal review, with a
consultation deadline of 13 December. The proposed amendment would prohibit 4D and gel characters by requiring all plates to have a completely flat
surface.
Industry experts warn that, if approved, the change could dramatically alter the plate manufacturing landscape and risk driving consumers towards
unregulated suppliers at a time when illegal plate crime is already rising.
Businesses across the sector are urging motorists, manufacturers and partners to submit comments to the BSI before the consultation closes.
One such statement came from Antony Clark of VRM Swansea Ltd, trading as Plates4Less, the UK’s highest rated private number plate agent, who wrote to
industry partners this week:
"We fully support any measure that improves road safety and reduces number plate fraud, but changes must be guided by real evidence.
When produced using compliant materials and correct processes, 4D and gel plates meet current standards and do not cause issues with ANPR (Automatic
Number Plate Recognition systems). If anything, they make registration marks easier to read and remember as they truly stand-out.
Up to 25% of clients choose 4D ‘Stand Out’ characters so there is a clear, solid demand and a blanket ban risks driving customers towards unregulated
sellers and online marketplaces (often based abroad) where illegal plates are already a major problem.
The focus should be on enforcing existing rules and tackling rogue traders, not removing legitimate products from compliant businesses. We encourage
everyone in the industry to share their views through the BSI consultation before the deadline.”
Antony Clark of VRM Swansea, Plates4Less.
What the Proposed Ban Would Change
The draft update to BS AU 145e introduces stricter wording that effectively
eliminates 4D and gel plates by requiring the surface of all number plates to be completely flat. Key elements include:
Characters must not exceed 2mm in height above the plate surface.
No materials of any kind may be attached to the outward-facing surface of the plate, including layered components that create the raised 4D or
gel appearance.
Laminated plates must have a single homogeneous clear layer with no indentations or intrusions.
Stickers, overlays, and applied materials are prohibited if they alter surface flatness.
This wording removes the legal basis for producing stand out raised-character plates, even when produced using compliant materials and processes.
The BSI text also emphasises that manufacturers must not add any component to a plate that could compromise retroreflectivity or ANPR readability,
though the draft does not present new test data showing failures specifically linked to properly produced 4D and gel plates.
Illegal Plate Supply & Use On The Rise and In the News
Trading Standards estimates that 1 in 15 vehicles on UK roads may now be displaying an illegal or modified plate, particularly common in high-mileage
urban fleets where drivers are seeking to avoid enforcement cameras.
In one London enforcement exercise, nearly 40% of checked taxi and private-hire vehicles were found to be using plate alterations that made them
partially unreadable to ANPR systems — highlighting how widespread ‘ghost plates’ have become in cities.
Under current law, being caught displaying an illegal or non-compliant plate typically results in a 'producer'. When there is a punishment, it’s
normally just a £100 fine and no licence points, a similar fine to a minor speeding offence, but with none of the consequences.
In many cases, the penalty for a ghost plate is lower than the traffic offence it hides.
Industry Response: Proposed Ban Risks Unintended consequences
Many reputable and well established plate manufacturers argue that compliant 4D and gel plates already meet ANPR standards when manufactured
correctly. Concerns raised include:
1. Customers will turn to illegal sellers
If compliant businesses are forced to withdraw raised-character plates, the sizable demand for these items (22-25% of the market) is likely to shift
towards unregulated online sellers. Many of these operators already ignore RNPS (DVLA Registered Number Plate Suppliers) requirements and routinely
bypass entitlement checks, which leads to unsafe products and a higher risk of illegal cloned plates entering circulation. Pushing more customers
towards suppliers who operate outside the law undermines the integrity of the entire number plate system and makes enforcement significantly harder.
2. Rogue operators profit while compliant businesses suffer
The proposed ban does nothing to address the increase in ‘ghost plates’ and fake reflective components supplied by irresponsible traders. Major
manufacturers fear the amendment penalises those following the regulations rather than those breaking them.
3. No evidence that legal 4D or gel plates cause ANPR failures
Multiple DVLA RNPS suppliers report zero reliability issues when using certified materials and correct manufacturing methods.
4. Loss of customer choice
4D and gel plates have become a popular aesthetic option for motorists. Removing them entirely would limit legitimate consumer demand and push
personalisation into the black market.
5. More effective solutions exist
Industry experts have recommended:
Stricter traceability and batch control for materials
Improved enforcement against illegal plate sellers
Higher penalties for displaying illegal plates
Cloning & Theft - Where We Would Like the Focus To Be!
2025 research by Churchill Motor Insurance shows stolen number plate reports have risen 68% since 2021, while cloned number plate reports rose 41% to
10,461 cases in 2024 alone
"The sharp rise in number plate cloning and theft is a worrying trend that
causes significant stress for innocent drivers..."
Nicholas Mantel, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance
Real-World Impact on Victims
More than 25,000 Dart Charge fixed penalty notices were cancelled between 2020 and 2024 after the vehicle was proven to be displaying stolen or cloned
number plates, illustrating how criminals are using ghost plates to evade tolls while innocent motorists are left to prove their innocence.
Surrey Heath MP Dr Al Pinkerton is amongst the voices now calling for tougher fines after a constituent received hundreds of pounds in fines for a car
she wasn’t driving.
Opportunity for Motorists and Businesses to Influence the Outcome
The BSI invites comments from manufacturers, RNPS holders, motoring organisations, ANPR specialists, and the general public. Anyone wishing to respond
can do so using the BSI consultation portal:
For those who encounter difficulties submitting comments online, the BSI provides an email template and allows responses to be sent directly to [email protected].
The consultation comments already include contributions from manufacturers, enforcement experts, plate suppliers, and public sector representatives.
Additional voices may influence whether the proposed ban is amended, paused, or withdrawn.
Q and A: What Drivers and Businesses Need to Know
Q1. Why is the ban being proposed?
A small number of case studies have suggested that raised characters on some plates might interfere with ANPR cameras. The proposed amendment aims to
eliminate any potential variation by mandating flat surfaces only. However, the evidence base has not been widely shared and appears to focus on
incorrect or non-compliant plates rather than legally manufactured ones.
Q2. Are 4D and gel plates currently legal?
Yes. When produced using approved materials and processes, 4D and gel plates comply with BS AU 145e. They are legal to use on UK roads provided they
meet all character size, spacing, reflectivity, and RNPS requirements.
Q3. Do compliant 4D or gel plates cause ANPR failures?
There is no broad industry evidence suggesting that correctly produced plates cause ANPR misreads. Problems generally arise from non-compliant or illegally altered plates, not from legitimate 4D or gel products.
Q4. What are the risks of banning them?
A blanket ban may push consumers towards cheap, unregulated online sellers. These traders already produce plates that fail reflective tests, use
unauthorised fonts and remove manufacturer identifiers. Removing legitimate, regulated options could strengthen the illegal market and worsen number
plate crime.
Q5. What is the alternative?
Industry experts recommend:
Better enforcement of existing regulations
Tighter controls on material sourcing and batch records
Clearer guidance for RNPS holders
Penalties for illegal online suppliers
Improved public education about legal plate requirements
Increased penalties for displaying illegal number plates on vehicles
This approach targets the real problem rather than restricting lawful businesses and customers.
Q6. Can people comment on the proposal?
Yes. Anyone can respond through the BSI consultation portal, including businesses, motorists, and compliance specialists.
Q7. I already have 4D or gel plates on my vehicle. What will happen if the ban is approved?
In previous updates to the British Standard for number plates, any changes have applied to new production only, not to plates that customers
already own and have fitted legally. There is no indication that this proposal would be any different.
If your 4D or gel plates were produced by a compliant RNPS-registered supplier and met the legal standard at the time of purchase, they would almost
certainly remain legal to use even if future manufacturing of that style is restricted.
Historically, the BS AU standard governs how plates must be made, not whether motorists must replace plates that were legal at the point of issue.
This means that existing 4D and gel plates would remain valid on the road, and enforcement would focus on new production once the amendment takes
effect.
The draft update to BS AU 145e introduces stricter wording that effectively
eliminates 4D and gel plates by requiring the surface of all number plates to be completely flat. Key elements include: 
