The government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reviewing the current regulations surrounding vehicle number plates, with four main areas of potential change being considered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This initiative aims to enhance the verification processes and tighten controls on the supply and use of number plates.
This discussion follows a parliamentary update highlighting the existing procedures for number plate checks during MOT inspections. However, government officials have expressed a desire to introduce more stringent measures.
The issue was raised in Parliament when Julian Lewis, Conservative MP for New Forest East, queried the Department for Transport on steps to combat the use of false or unreadable number plates, particularly those undetectable by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems. His questions covered increasing penalties for both using and supplying illegal plates, incorporating number plate verification into MOT tests, implementing background checks for suppliers, and equipping police forces with enhanced detection tools and training.
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Responding on 7 September, Justin Madders, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport, reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling number plate crime. He emphasised the DVLA’s collaboration with police forces and the National Police Chiefs' Council to improve identification and enforcement efforts.
The government’s Road Safety Strategy, published in January 2026, outlines a vision for safer roads, including a review of motoring offences. Consultations have been conducted on introducing penalty points and vehicle seizure for offences involving incorrect, altered, or false number plates. These consultations closed on 11 May, with responses currently under consideration.
Madders confirmed that visual inspections of number plates for security, legibility, visibility, and legal compliance are already part of MOT tests. Additionally, the DVLA is exploring options to strengthen the Register of Number Plate Suppliers, aiming for a more robust and auditable process. Possible measures include revising fees, restructuring the scheme, and increasing resources and funding.
Support and training for police forces concerning the illegal use and supply of number plates are also provided by the DVLA. Furthermore, funding has been allocated to establish a new National Roads Policing Coordination Centre, designed to foster intelligence sharing and enhanced collaboration across England’s police forces. This centre is tasked with improving enforcement against illegal number plates and trialling new technologies, such as specialist goggles to detect plates deliberately altered to evade cameras.
The government highlighted the broader impacts of illegal number plates, noting their frequent use in criminal activities including evasion of speeding, parking, and clean air zone penalties, as well as involvement in organised crime and the movement of illicit goods. Such vehicles are challenging for police to track, especially when stolen or linked to serious offences.
In a related parliamentary enquiry, Labour MP Grahame Morris questioned plans for more rigorous screening and background checks, including criminal record checks, for number plate suppliers. Madders reiterated ongoing efforts and the importance of public awareness campaigns. The DVLA actively encourages purchasing number plates only from registered suppliers and provides information on approved suppliers through its online platforms.
While the Home Office holds responsibility for police funding, collaborative efforts between the DVLA and police continue to focus on law enforcement and public safety concerning number plate regulations.