Initiative May Protect Car Insurance Customers

Motor insurance holders may be well-advised to take advantage of an offer from their local police. Forces have invited drivers to attend a session during which number plates will be attached more securely.

Officers will be using specially-designed screws which make it harder for thieves to remove registrations. They explained this was important because when plates were stolen they are often used on other vehicles which are involved in criminal activity. A spokesman for the police said the scheme has been established to protect innocent motorists against becoming victims of fraud.

He added: "While it is not an excessive problem it is one we are keen to tackle."

According to the DVLA Stolen plates are used by criminals to:

•    Change the identity of stolen cars so they can be sold.
•    Disguise cars used in activities like ram-raiding or driving from petrol stations without paying.
•    Evade congestion charges, parking and speeding fines.

The Industry, DVLA and others have recently developed a voluntary standard for theft resistant number plates. Plates that meet the standard will resist known attack methods for a minimum of three minutes and can be expected to cost around twice the price of normal plates.

Be Wiser is a quality provider of Motor Insurance.