A shocking investigation has exposed a critical flaw in Britain's vehicle registration system, revealing that official suppliers are selling so-called 'ghost plates' designed to be invisible to roadside cameras.
How the 'Ghost Plate' System Was Exposed
A Daily Mail reporter was able to purchase a set of these illicit plates from a supplier registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The supplier failed to carry out any checks to verify the reporter was the car's registered owner.
The plates featured raised '4D' lettering, which experts state can confuse Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras by creating shadows and distortions. However, laboratory tests at Cranfield University uncovered an even more sophisticated stealth layer.
Researchers discovered that six of the seven characters on the plates were made from a material that turns transparent under infrared light, the technology used by ANPR cameras at night or in poor visibility. Startling images showed the plates appearing almost blank under such conditions.
Dr Stuart Barnes, who analysed the plates, stated: "These are true ghost plates that use a special material intended to be invisible to most ANPR cameras operating at night. To the naked eye, the characters look the same as on any other number plate."
A System 'Wide Open to Abuse'
The ease of obtaining these plates highlights profound regulatory failures. Britain allows almost anyone to become an official number plate supplier for a one-off £40 fee, with no mandatory criminal background check.
A recent parliamentary report found there are now an "eye-watering" 34,455 registered suppliers—four times the number of UK petrol stations—and warned the system was "wide open to abuse". Trading standards investigators have found convicted fraudsters and criminals linked to serious offences among authorised suppliers.
Enforcement is virtually absent, with the DVLA employing only 'five or six' staff to audit the rapidly expanding market. This has created a 'wild west' environment where some companies brazenly advertise 'ghost plates'.
A second set of 4D plates bought by the Mail from a different supplier—again without checks—had thinned characters that could also potentially confuse ANPR cameras.
Grave Consequences and Urgent Calls for Reform
The proliferation of these plates is now considered a grave national security risk. MPs have been warned that the unregulated regime is being exploited by thousands of criminals, including grooming gangs and organised crime syndicates. The Metropolitan Police fears terrorists could exploit this "critical vulnerability".
It is now feared that as many as one in 15 cars on UK roads could be fitted with ghost plates. Critics also warn that ordinary motorists have an incentive to use them to evade camera-enforced schemes like London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).
Sarah Coombes MP, campaigning for tougher penalties, said: "This investigation shows just how broken the UK’s number plate system is. It’s far too easy to buy dodgy illegal plates... This number plate wild west is great for criminals and terrible for the rest of us."
Both suppliers identified by the Mail are now facing investigation by the DVLA. The Government is being urged to close the legal loophole that currently allows the sale of 3D and 4D plates and to overhaul the entire supplier registration system.
A DVLA spokesman said: "There are strict laws in place... We will investigate any reports of suppliers failing to comply. There is a review on the current standards which aims to ban production of plates designed to evade ANPR cameras."
