Cases of vehicle identity theft are on the rise across the UK and cars are being cloned for a variety of illegal activities.
John Brady, Head of Commercial at John Lewis Insurance looks at the problem of car identity theft and how to protect yourself.
“Many people are still unaware of car identity theft as a crime and how easily they could become a victim.”
John Brady, Head of Commercial at John Lewis Insurance.
Q & A with John Brady
Q. What’s your background and what experience do you have in providing advice about Car Insurance?
A. I've worked in financial services for 20 years, including banking, credit cards and insurance. The last five have been spent at the John Lewis Partnership, where I’ve helped to launch and develop John Lewis Insurance, including our personal insurance cover for homes, weddings, pets, travel, events and of course, cars.
Q. What is car identity theft?
A. Car ID theft – or car cloning – is when your vehicle’s number plate or registration details are stolen and put on a vehicle of the same make, model and even colour.
Criminals can steal the number plate straight off your car, or buy a replica registration plate off the internet and just attach it to theirs. These replica plates are not legally allowed to be used as number plates, but there’s really nothing to stop criminals using them in this way.
Q. What are the cloned number plates used for?
A. Cars with cloned number plates can be used for a variety of criminal activities, ranging from minor offences to more serious organised crime. Most people only become aware that they’ve become a victim when they start to receive fines and charges that have nothing to do with them. A criminal could use a cloned number plate to avoid paying things like:
- Parking fines
- Speeding tickets
- London congestion charge fees
- Fuel charges
Q. How common is vehicle identity theft?
A. Thousands of number plates are stolen each year but many people are still unaware of car identity theft as a crime and how easily they could become a victim. They often fail to report the theft of their number plates until it’s too late.
Q. What should I do if I think I might be the victim of car identity theft?
A. If you start receiving notifications of fines or charges which you’re not aware of, the chances are that your vehicle has been cloned for criminal activity.
If you do believe you’re a victim of crime, then you should notify your car insurance provider and the police as soon as possible. You should also let the DVLA know so that they can make a record for future reference. Keep all evidence that demonstrates your whereabouts at the time that your car’s clone was being used illegally.
For more information and legal advice about vehicle cloning, visit the Government’s website.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/VehicleCrime/DG_10020050
Q. If I do become a victim of vehicle ID theft, how will my John Lewis Car Insurance policy help me?
A. If you have John Lewis Comprehensive Car Insurance, we’ll provide up to £25,000 of legal aid to defend legal proceedings that have been brought about by the illegal use of your vehicle.
You also have access to our 24 hour Legal Helpline that will provide you with full assistance and guidance on any motoring-related legal matter.
Read our Policy Wording for the full list of things we’ll cover.
Expert’s tips
Q. Have you got any tips on preventing car ID theft?
A. There are some really simple things that can help prevent you becoming a victim of vehicle identity theft.
- If possible, keep your vehicle out of sight by locking it away in a garage or behind gates.
- Don’t leave your car unattended for long periods of time.
- Replace the existing screws on your number plate with tamper-resistant security ones such as clutch-head screws.
- Look out for new anti-theft number plates which break when unscrewed from your car.
- If you’re buying a car, make sure you see all the original documentation including the V5 document, a full service history and MoT records. If you feel suspicious or see anything you’re not sure about then don’t go ahead with the sale.
- Make sure you have good car insurance that will protect you financially if you do become a victim.
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> Click here for tips on preventing personal ID theft