Is My Car a Clone? How to Spot a Cloned Vehicle

Vehicle cloning is on the rise. Learn how to spot a cloned car, protect yourself when buying, and check any vehicle's identity.

How to Spot a Cloned Vehicle

Vehicle cloning is when criminals copy the identity of a legitimate car — using its registration number, VIN, and plates — onto a stolen or illegally imported vehicle. It's more common than you think, and the consequences for buyers are devastating.

How cloning works

1. Criminal steals a car (or imports one without paying duty)
2. They find a legitimate car of the same make, model, and colour
3. They copy its number plates and forge documents
4. They sell the clone — and you end up with a stolen car that gets seized by the police

Warning signs

• Price too good to be true — clones are often priced 20–40% below market
• VIN mismatch — the VIN on the windscreen, door frame, and engine should all match
• V5C inconsistencies — check the document carefully for mismatched fonts, spelling errors, or watermark issues
• Seller avoidance — won't let you inspect thoroughly, wants cash only, meets in a car park instead of their home
• Mileage discrepancy — the odometer doesn't match the MOT history

How to protect yourself

1. Check the vehicle history — our report cross-references DVLA records, stolen databases, and plate change history
2. Compare the VIN — physically check the VIN on the car against the V5C
3. Meet at the registered address — if they won't, walk away
4. Pay by bank transfer — never cash, and record the transaction

Run a full identity check on any vehicle