Mayor of London Supports Action Against Illegal ‘Ghost’ Number Plates

The Mayor of London has expressed support for a parliamentary report calling for stronger measures to tackle illegal or “ghost” number plates, following concerns that the practice is costing Transport for London (TfL) millions in lost revenue each year.

The issue was highlighted in a December 2025 report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport (APPG), which noted a sharp rise in the use of cloned and illegal plates across the capital. Evidence submitted by TfL showed that the number of PCN cancellations linked to cloned plates more than doubled from 7,274 cases in 2021 to 16,553 in 2022.

The APPG estimated that TfL could be losing up to £49.8 million a year in revenue, with uncollected fines potentially reaching £898.8 million, although the Mayor clarified that these figures are estimates from the APPG, not official TfL data.

Speaking in response to a City Hall question from Caroline Russell (City Hall Greens), the Mayor said urgent action is needed to curb the growth of ghost plates, which are often used to evade congestion charges, ULEZ fees, and airport drop-off charges. Taxis and private hire vehicles were among the operators highlighted in the report.

While enforcement primarily falls under the police, TfL is taking steps to improve detection. The transport authority is currently trialling new technical solutions to enhance its camera network, helping to identify illegal or altered number plates more effectively.

The Mayor confirmed that TfL is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service and other stakeholders, and that the government is also pursuing measures to tackle ghost plates nationwide. He described the issue as a significant concern for both revenue protection and compliance with road charging schemes.

Commenting on the report, the Mayor said:"The APPG’s figures are estimates, not official TfL calculations. However, action must be taken to stop the rise in illegal registration plates, and TfL and I support the APPG’s recommendations. Enforcement is primarily the responsibility of the police, who are reviewing and trialling technical solutions to strengthen detection. TfL will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police and other partners, while the government takes national action to combat ghost plates."

The Mayor’s comments are likely to draw attention from taxi and private hire operators, who have previously warned that weak enforcement against illegal plates undermines law-abiding drivers and affects the cost of operating in London, particularly as road charges and airport fees continue to expand.