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Car Security
Can my number plates be stolen online?
How to help protect your car from number plate theft
Number plate theft is increasing in Victoria. Discover what you can do to protect your number plates from being stolen.
Number plate theft is on the rise in Victoria, with 32,134 number plates stolen in the year ending June 2026 — an increase of 89.3 per cent from 2023 — according to Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) data.
Neighbourhood Watch Victoria CEO Bambi Gordon says that while number plate theft seems like a low-level crime, the reality is it can have serious ramifications for motorists – including the potential to be used in identity theft and criminal activities.
In most cases, thieves remove number plates and transfer them to their own vehicle or a stolen vehicle. They can also copy registration details – the unique combination of letters and numbers on a vehicle’s number plates – from photos posted on car sales websites or social media.
Thankfully, there are practical steps you can take to make your number plates harder to steal – both from your vehicle and online.
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Number plate theft - everything you need to know
Why is number plate theft on the rise?
Most people hide valuables from view and lock their cars to deter break-ins. But Gordon says number plates are among the most commonly stolen items from vehicles.
"Neighbourhood Watch has been educating people about the need to secure their number plates for nearly 40 years," she says.
Criminals use stolen number plates to conceal their identity and avoid being traced while committing other offences, including:
- petrol drive offs
- burglaries and ram raids
- drug trafficking
- avoiding speeding and parking fines
- avoiding tollway fees.
CCTV cameras, automatic number plate recognition technology – commonly used on toll roads – and witnesses can help police identify offenders by capturing or recording a vehicle’s number plate. But when stolen plates are used, tolls and fines are sent to the registered owner, often weeks after the offence. Stolen plates can also make it significantly harder for police to identify those responsible for serious crimes such as burglary.
More: Unusual things thieves want to steal
The most common item stolen from a car is its number plates. Image: Getty
Which areas are most affected by number plate theft in Victoria?
The CSA reported 32,134 number plate thefts across Victoria in the year ending June 2026. The five local government areas (LGAs) with the highest numbers of recorded thefts were:
- Casey (Southern Metro region) - 2,754
- Hume (North West Metro) - 1,865
- Greater Dandenong (Southern Metro) - 1,852
- Brimbank (North West Metro) - 1,758
- Wyndham (North West Metro) - 1,486.
Can my number plates be stolen online?
Number plate theft is not limited to physically removing plates from a vehicle. Thieves can also copy registration details from photos posted on car sales websites or social media, then print them on laminated material and cover the plates of a similar vehicle.
Car owners may not realise their registration details have been stolen until they receive an unexpected toll invoice, which can be distressing.
Blur or remove your number plates from photos before posting your car for sale online. Image: Getty
How can I help protect my car from number plate theft?
Install anti-theft screws
Replace standard number plate screws with anti-theft screws, also known as one-way, security or safe plate screws. While standard screws can be quickly removed with a flathead or Phillips-head screwdriver, anti-theft screws require a special tool for removal. This makes it more difficult to steal number plates quickly and may encourage thieves to move on to an easier target.
Park smart
Where possible, park your car in a locked garage. If you don’t have a garage, park off the street in your driveway or carport, where suspicious activity may be more likely to be seen or heard.
Blur your plates online
To protect your registration details online, blur or remove your number plates from photos before posting them on car sales websites or social media. You can use a free photo-editing app or online tool to do this.
Where can I get anti-theft screws to protect my number plates?
Anti-theft screws for number plates are inexpensive (about $10) and available from most auto shops, hardware stores and service stations. You can also get them for free at one of Neighbourhood Watch's Safe Plate events, which are supported by RACV and Victoria Police.
"We speak with drivers about keeping their vehicles and belongings safe while our volunteers fit one-way screws to their number plates," explains Gordon.
"Many Neighbourhood Watch groups also hold Safe Plate events in their local communities. Fitting one-way screws is just one of the many ways Neighbourhood Watch makes crooks cranky."
Bring your vehicle to a Safe Plate event and volunteers will fix anti-theft screws on your number plates for a gold coin donation.
What should I do if my number plates are stolen?
If your number plates are stolen, report the theft to police immediately by visiting your nearest police station, calling 131 444, or by submitting an online form. This can help police identify the stolen plates and detect offenders.
Next, take proof of identity to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre and apply for new general issue number plates. The replacement plates will have a different letter and number combination. Bring anti-theft screws to your appointment so you can secure the new plates before leaving.
Make sure you update your registration details with your insurer, roadside assistance provider and toll road operators.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
