Number Plates Stolen? Here’s Exactly What to Do
Short answer: number plates stolen? Report it to the police straight away and get a crime reference number. Then tell your insurer, and don’t drive the car until new road-legal plates are fitted. Replacement plates only need your ID and V5C, and at our Hounslow workshop most sets are made while you wait.
Number plates stolen from your car are rarely about the plates. They’re usually taken to put on another car of the same make and colour, so the thief can dodge fuel bills, speeding tickets and congestion charges. That’s why the first two steps below matter so much: they protect you if fines start turning up in your name.
Written by the PlateBoss team, a DVLA-registered number plate supplier with a workshop in Hounslow, west London. Updated and checked against DVLA and GOV.UK guidance, September 2026.
In this guide
- What to do if your number plates are stolen
- Can I drive without number plates?
- Getting replacement plates
- If your plates have been cloned
- How to stop plates being stolen
- FAQs
What to do if your number plates are stolen: 5 steps
- Report it to the police. Call 101 or use your local force’s online reporting. Call 999 only if the theft is happening now. Ask for a crime reference number and keep it safe.
- Tell your insurer. Give them the crime reference. It’s a record that the plates were taken, and some policies cover the cost of replacements.
- Take photos of the car and the empty plate area, with the date. Useful later if you’re sent a fine for somewhere you weren’t.
- Don’t drive the car until new plates are on. (More on that below.)
- Order road-legal replacements from a DVLA-registered supplier.
Number plates stolen: can I still drive my car?
No. Every car on a UK road must show a front and rear plate. Driving without them, or with incorrectly displayed plates, can mean a fine of up to £1,000. It also makes you very noticeable to police and ANPR cameras. If you need the car urgently, get replacements first. We can usually make a standard set in Hounslow while you wait.
Plates stolen and need new ones today? Bring your V5C and ID to our Hounslow workshop and most sets are made while you wait. Or order online before 2pm for same-day dispatch.
Order replacement platesAsk us on WhatsAppGetting replacement number plates
You don’t need the crime reference number to buy new plates. You need the same two things as anyone else: one document to prove who you are, like your driving licence, and one to prove you’re entitled to the reg, usually your V5C. Here’s the full list of documents needed for number plates, including what to do if the logbook’s missing too.
It’s also a good moment to upgrade. Plenty of people whose standard plates were stolen leave with a set of 3D gel or 4D plates, which cost from £49.99 a pair.
If your number plates have been cloned
If you start getting speeding tickets, parking notices or congestion charge fines for places you haven’t been, your plates may have been cloned. Don’t ignore them:
- Reply to each notice, explaining the car wasn’t yours, with your crime reference number and any evidence (photos, where the car was at the time).
- Report it to the police if you haven’t already.
- Contact the DVLA and let them know. If cloning keeps happening, ask them about your options.
How to stop your number plates being stolen
- Use anti-theft screws. One-way or security screws need a special tool to remove, which slows a thief down.
- Use screws and strong pads together. Plates fixed with both are much harder to pull off. Our extra-strong adhesive pads are £4.99 a pack.
- Park somewhere visible. A driveway, garage or a well-lit street with CCTV is much less attractive than a quiet corner.
- Check your plates when you get in the car, so you notice quickly if one goes missing.
Our guide on how to install number plates shows how to fit them securely.
Replacement plates and fitting
-25%
Replacement Number Plates
Original price was: £40.00.£29.99Current price is: £29.99.
-29%
3D Gel Number Plates
Original price was: £70.00.£49.99Current price is: £49.99.
-29%
4D 3mm Number Plates
Original price was: £70.00.£49.99Current price is: £49.99.
-29%
Extra Strong Adhesive Pads (8 in a pack)
Original price was: £6.99.£4.99Current price is: £4.99.Need new plates fast? Order before 2pm for same-day dispatch with free tracked delivery, or collect from our Hounslow workshop. Most sets are made while you wait.
Shop road-legal platesCollect in HounslowWhatsApp usNumber plates stolen: FAQs
What should I do if my number plates are stolen?
Report it to the police and get a crime reference number, tell your insurer, don’t drive the car without plates, and order road-legal replacements with your ID and V5C.
Do I need a crime reference number to buy new plates?
No. You need proof of identity and proof of entitlement to the registration, usually your driving licence and V5C. Keep the crime reference for your insurer and any fines sent to you.
Can I drive without number plates?
No. You must display front and rear plates. Driving without them, or with incorrect plates, can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
How quickly can I get replacement plates?
At our Hounslow workshop, most standard sets are made while you wait. Online orders placed before 2pm are dispatched the same day.
How do I stop my plates being stolen again?
Fit them with anti-theft screws and strong adhesive pads together, and park somewhere visible and well lit.
