Overview
- The DVLA conducted 2,366 audits in the first 10 months of 2025, fewer than eight per day, against a registry of more than 34,000 number plate suppliers.
- The agency issued 1,041 warning letters to suppliers this year, reaching a five-year high.
- The DVLA says it supported police and Trading Standards in 14 successful supplier prosecutions in 2025 for failures such as poor records and ID checks.
- The APPG for Transport Safety and MP Sarah Coombes are calling for supplier background checks, higher fees, regular audits, removal of non-compliant sellers, standardised plates, and a ban on 3D and 4D lettering.
- The Department for Transport says illegal plates will not be tolerated and confirms a standards review aiming to prohibit plates designed to evade ANPR, with the BNMA indicating support for compliant measures.