Thousands of businesses selling illegal number plates are doing so without being probed by authorities, an MP has warned.
It comes after new figures showed that just a fraction of number plate suppliers faced an audit by the DVLA this year.
Sarah Coombes, the Labour MP for West Bromwich, said the agency's efforts to probe into illegal number plate businesses 'doesn't touch the side of what's needed'.
Showing the rising scale of the issue, the DVLA has already sent more than 1,000 warning letters to registered number plate suppliers in 2025 - a five-year high.
According to an investigation by PA, the agency completed 2,366 audits of these businesses between January and October.
But 'with over 34,000 registered number plate suppliers on its books, the DVLA needs to get a grip of this number plate wild west and invest in more enforcement, background checks on suppliers, and increased fees to become a supplier,' Ms Coombes says.
She added: 'A robust number plate system is essential to ensure high levels of safety on our roads.'
Sarah Coombes, the Labour MP for West Bromwich, said the DVLA's efforts to probe into illegal number plate sellers in Britain 'doesn't touch the side of what's needed'
Incorrectly displayed number plates can land drivers with a fine of up to £1,000.
A campaign group in Parliament has found 'ghost plates are increasingly being used deliberately among rogue drivers'.
These plates appear normal to the human eye, but plastic film or raised lettering using gels and plastics can make them unreadable to police cameras - showing up as white or yellow rectangles or with characters missing.
'Rogue drivers can exploit weaknesses in the ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) system with ease, buying plates for less than £10 online with no questions asked,' the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Transport Safety found.
It believes that as many as one in 15 vehicles may carry plates designed to evade detection by ANPR camera.
Illegal plates have not only become increasingly popular among unscrupulous motorists wanting to evade penalties for entering low emission zones, using bus lanes and speeding, their widespread availability is ultimately soliciting wider organised crime and becoming a 'national security threat', the APPG says.
This is because gangs can easily identify vehicles for sale online that match a car they are using for a host of other crimes, such as vehicle theft and drugs trafficking.
They can then purchase duplicate plates online from sellers who fail to request evidence that they own that motor vehicle. One the plates are fitted, organised criminal units can then carry out a variety of offences under a false vehicle ID.
By law, anyone purchasing new plates is required to provide proof of their identity - either a driving licence or passport - and of entitlement to that car with its vehicle registration certificate (also known as the logbook or V5C).
However, many companies do not request this information and supply number plates no questions asked.
As many as one in 15 vehicles may carry plates designed to evade detection by automatic number plate recognition cameras, putting road users at risk, a campaign group in Parliament found
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety's (APPG) report said 'nothing more sophisticated than cellophane, leaves or a marker pen' can evade ANPR cameras. You can buy sprays and devices online to trick cameras
Abusing the number plate system can facilitate a range of offences, from dodging road charges and fines, to drug dealing and organised crime
A listing on Amazon promises to 'block infrared signals and visible flashes emitted by speed cameras'
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But despite these warnings, the DVLA only has a 'smattering of officers travelling the length and breadth of the country' trying to enforce the law, according to the group.
Many number plate sellers - particularly those based online - often fail to follow proper procedure when selling products to drivers.
In 2025, the DVLA has been running the equivalent of fewer than eight audits of number plate sellers per day on average.
At the same time, the number of warning letters sent has jumped from 743 in 2023 and 713 in 2024 to 1,041 in 2025.
Sarah Coombes has called for a 'robust number plate system' to 'ensure high levels of safety on our roads'
'During 2025, the DVLA has supported Trading Standards and the police in the successful prosecution of 14 suppliers,' the agency told PA.
'These included offences of not keeping records and failing to ask for the required documentation.'
A Department for Transport spokesperson added: 'We won't tolerate illegal plates that help criminals evade detection - selling or displaying them is already against the law.
'There are strict laws in place which demand number plate suppliers are properly registered with DVLA, and robust identification standards for buyers.
'We're cracking down hard on rogue suppliers, working with police and Trading Standards.
'On top of this, there is a review on the current standards on number plates which aim to ban production of plates that are specifically designed to evade automatic number plate recognition cameras.'
The APPG has called for suppliers to face background checks, and for the authorities to 'significantly restrict the number of licensed sellers via annual fees, regular audits and removal of non-compliant sellers'.
The group also recommended the Government sets out a standardised design for registration plates, including a ban on 3D and 4D lettering.
