Ghost Plates: The Growing Compliance Challenge

Ghost plates, sometimes referred to as stealth plates, are an increasing concern for enforcement agencies, licensing authorities, and regulators across the UK.

Designed to evade detection from cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, ghost plates allow vehicles to avoid identification by speed cameras, parking enforcement, congestion charging systems, ULEZ monitoring, airport drop-off cameras and bus lane cameras.

While they may appear normal to the naked eye, their reflective properties are altered so that cameras, particularly those using infrared technology, struggle to capture a readable registration.

These plates are often marketed online as 3D or 4D plates, tinted plates, or plates treated with sprays or films claiming to “block infrared” while “remaining road legal.” In reality, they are not compliant with legal standards.

The British Number Plate Manufacturers Association (BNMA) reports that up to a staggering 1 in 15 number plates on UK roads may be unreadable by ANPR cameras.

Some plates are tinted, meaning certain cameras cannot read the plate and identify the vehicle despite it appearing normal in daylight. Former government surveillance camera commissioner Tony Porter told The Times that around 80 to 90 per cent of ANPR misreads are caused by dimming, the practice of tinting a number plate.

Fake number plates can be purchased online for as little as £10 from thousands of largely unregulated sellers. Reflective “stealth” tape designed to make plates invisible to ANPR infrared cameras can also be purchased online for relatively low cost.

It is estimated that around one million ANPR misreads occur every day, many of which are believed to be linked to modified or tampered number plates.

The Scale of the Issue

Estimates from industry and enforcement partners suggest that approximately 1 in 15 drivers may be using ghost plates. While that figure is concerning on its own, averages can be misleading.

In some areas usage may appear minimal. However, enforcement data paints a far more troubling picture in certain environments.

Ghost plate use increases dramatically among individuals attempting to conceal movements related to criminal activity. Enforcement agencies have linked ghost plates to vehicles involved in theft, burglary, organised crime, drug and human trafficking and other serious offences.

Because these plates prevent reliable identification, they can also enable drivers to repeatedly evade charges, penalties and enforcement actions.

At a more everyday level, modified plates are increasingly being used to avoid congestion charges, parking penalties, ULEZ fees, and airport drop-off fees.

The financial impact is significant, with millions of pounds in fees and penalties believed to go unrecovered each year due to unreadable or misread plates.

Where Do Taxis Sit?

The issue becomes particularly important for taxi and private hire licensing authorities.

Taxi and private hire vehicles operate in regulated environments where vehicle identification is essential for public safety, safeguarding and enforcement.

There are currently limited large-scale studies specifically examining ghost plate usage within the taxi sector. However, available enforcement data raises serious concerns.

Jamie Brown, Team Leader Compliance at Bradford, reported that during targeted roadside checks approximately 70 vehicles suspected of displaying ghost plates were tested. Of those vehicles, 39 were found to be non-compliant, representing a 56% detection rate within that targeted sample.

In March 2023, joint operations between the Metropolitan Police Service and Transport for London checked around 1,000 licensed vehicles using specialist ghost plate detection cameras. They found that 41% had non-compliant plates.

Follow-up enforcement later that year still recorded non-compliance rates of 38%, despite increased awareness and compliance activity.

Additional enforcement surveys have revealed that some drivers carry compliant plates in their vehicles and only fit them when inspections are anticipated.

In another case, Avon and Somerset Police stopped a private hire vehicle during the Cheltenham races meeting. The vehicle, licensed by Wolverhampton City Council, was fitted with ghost plates and the driver had provided a fraudulent insurance certificate, leaving the vehicle effectively uninsured.

Why This Matters

The correlation between ghost plate usage and wider criminal activity is deeply concerning.

For taxi and private hire vehicles, any deliberate attempt to obscure vehicle identity undermines public trust and creates significant risks for:

• Passenger safety

• Licensing integrity

• Enforcement credibility

• Wider community protection

  
  

This is not simply a technical compliance issue. It is fundamentally a safeguarding issue.

The majority of drivers operate professionally and compliantly.

Enforcement and Legislative Developments

Enforcement bodies across the UK are increasing their focus on the issue.

Some authorities are already taking decisive action. Wolverhampton has banned the use of 3D plates on licensed vehicles, while other compliance teams are increasing roadside inspections and deploying specialist detection technology.

Evidence suggests that visible enforcement, clear sanctions and word-of-mouth consequences can be effective deterrents.

Legislative attention is also increasing.

A Private Members’ Bill titled Vehicle Registration Offences (Review) Bill (Bill 188) was presented in Parliament on 26 February 2025 by Sarah Coombes MP, with cross-party support. The Bill proposes tougher penalties for illegal number plates, including potential increases to fines of up to £1,000, the addition of six driving licence penalty points, and in some cases vehicle seizure or licence disqualification.

Currently, the penalty for a non-conforming number plate is typically a £100 fine with no penalty points, which many enforcement bodies consider insufficient to act as a deterrent.

A Sector-Wide Responsibility

Ghost plates are not simply a policing issue. They are a licensing issue, a safeguarding issue and a reputational issue for the taxi and private hire sector.

Prevention is just as important as enforcement.

Ensuring that licensed vehicles are fitted with fully compliant plates from reputable manufacturers is one of the most immediate safeguards available to licensing authorities.

MOGO forms part of a wider print and technology group, and there is a strong possibility that the number plate on your own vehicle was manufactured by our sister company. That company produces number plates to the exacting, mandatory standards set out by the DVLA, and our taxi plates are manufactured to those same strict specifications.

As members of the British Number Plate Manufacturers Association (BNMA), our Group CEO is actively working with agencies, government bodies and enforcement partners to address the rise of ghost plates.

At MOGO, our focus remains clear: supporting compliance, strengthening safeguarding, and helping eliminate ghost plates from the taxi and private hire sector.

If you would like to discuss compliance standards, plate specifications, or approaches to preventing ghost plates within your authority, the MOGO team is always happy to continue the conversation.

Safeguarding begins with driver integrity.