Are Ghost Number Plates Legal?

No. Ghost plates (also known as stealth plates) are illegal in the UK. These are plates designed to avoid detection by speed cameras and ANPR systems through reflective coatings, special films, or altered characters that appear normal to the human eye but confuse automated enforcement systems.

Ghost plates are used to evade speeding fines, congestion charges, emission zone fees, road tolls, and other traffic penalties. By masking a vehicle's true identity, they allow drivers to bypass automated number plate recognition technology.

If you're caught using ghost plates, you face a £100 on-the-spot fine from police. However, because these plates are often used to facilitate more serious offences like avoiding enforcement cameras or engaging in illegal activities, the consequences can escalate beyond a simple fixed penalty.

Police can confiscate ghost plates immediately and remove your vehicle from the road until compliant plates are fitted. In severe cases, your registration may be permanently withdrawn without compensation.

There are growing calls for tougher penalties given the proliferation of ghost plates and their use in serious criminal activity. The RAC has highlighted concerns that criminals can easily purchase illegal ghost plates online, making enforcement difficult and placing financial burdens on innocent drivers whose registrations are cloned.