The Department does not hold this information.

Electric bikes which comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 do not require registration, tax or insurance. No assessment has been made concerning the number ridden on public roads.

No such estimate has been made.

Advice for the public on the rules concerning e-bikes and when it is necessary to register them as road vehicles – in order to be legally used on the roads – has been published by the Department.

Discussions on the reciprocal sharing of information relating to transport managers and road haulage operators took place at meetings of the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement Specialised Committee on Road Transport (SCRT) in 2024 and 2025.

At the 2025 meeting of the SCRT, decisions enabling data sharing were formally adopted by the co-chairs. The minutes of those meetings, the text of the decisions, and the associated explanatory memorandum have been published on GOV.UK.

To implement these arrangements domestically, the UK introduced The European Registers of Road Transport Undertakings (Disclosure of Information) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which came into force on 1 January 2026.

The table below shows the volume of vehicle registration certificates (V5C)s issued via the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s ‘I want to request a Vehicle Registration Certificate’ service in the last five calendar years.

The table below shows the volume of fraudulently obtained genuine V5Cs which were identified following investigations by the DVLA in the last five financial years.

The table below shows the volume of vehicle registration certificates (V5C)s issued via the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s ‘I want to request a Vehicle Registration Certificate’ service in the last five calendar years.

The table below shows the volume of fraudulently obtained genuine V5Cs which were identified following investigations by the DVLA in the last five financial years.

Information is not available specifically on the trends in mopeds and 51–125cc scooters registered for the first time, so the Department has not made this assessment.

Non-EAPC electric bikes are classed as motor vehicles and cannot legally be used on the road unless approved and registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, taxed and insured. The police have the power to seize electric bikes not appropriately registered as motor vehicles under Section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and on the grounds that they would not be insured. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 gave police new powers to seize vehicles used anti‑socially without first issuing a warning and introduced Respect Orders to ban repeat offenders from affected areas.

The Driver and Vehicle Agency takes the integrity of its registers very seriously. Access to systems is strictly controlled and monitored and there is a detailed audit trail.

The registration process has been reviewed to ensure robustness and specialised fraud awareness training has been delivered to every member of staff.

All employees are reminded of their responsibilities when they join DVLA and this is reinforced throughout their employment. Any suspicions of fraudulent activity are investigated promptly and swift action is taken against anyone who is suspected or identified of abusing their access to the system.

The Driver and Vehicle Agency takes the integrity of its registers very seriously. Access to systems is strictly controlled and monitored and there is a detailed audit trail.

The registration process has been reviewed to ensure robustness and specialised fraud awareness training has been delivered to every member of staff.

All employees are reminded of their responsibilities when they join DVLA and this is reinforced throughout their employment. Any suspicions of fraudulent activity are investigated promptly and swift action is taken against anyone who is suspected or identified of abusing their access to the system.

The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes consideration of the relevant legislation, fees, structure, resources and funding to help ensure sufficient auditing capability.

The DVLA is also working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Home Office and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime. This includes options for making number plates more secure. The Department and the DVLA acknowledge the impact illegal number plates have on law enforcement and the effectiveness of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems.

The Home Office is responsible for the national ANPR service and issues guidance on its use as part of the national ANPR standards for policing and law enforcement. Therefore, the Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the impacts on ANPR operations.

The Government published its Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. Further consideration to potential changes will be given following the consultation.

The DVLA continually seeks opportunities to improve the accuracy of the vehicle register and to innovate and enhance its digital services. The DVLA is currently consider the requirement for legislative amendments which may be needed to facilitate updates and improvements to vehicle services.

The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes consideration of the relevant legislation, fees, structure, resources and funding to help ensure sufficient auditing capability.

The DVLA is also working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Home Office and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime. This includes options for making number plates more secure. The Department and the DVLA acknowledge the impact illegal number plates have on law enforcement and the effectiveness of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems.

The Home Office is responsible for the national ANPR service and issues guidance on its use as part of the national ANPR standards for policing and law enforcement. Therefore, the Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the impacts on ANPR operations.

The Government published its Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. Further consideration to potential changes will be given following the consultation.

The DVLA continually seeks opportunities to improve the accuracy of the vehicle register and to innovate and enhance its digital services. The DVLA is currently consider the requirement for legislative amendments which may be needed to facilitate updates and improvements to vehicle services.

The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are considering options to ensure a more robust and auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier (RNPS) process which would enable more stringent checks on suppliers. This includes consideration of the relevant legislation, fees, structure, resources and funding to help ensure sufficient auditing capability.

The DVLA is also working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Home Office and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime. This includes options for making number plates more secure. The Department and the DVLA acknowledge the impact illegal number plates have on law enforcement and the effectiveness of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems.

The Home Office is responsible for the national ANPR service and issues guidance on its use as part of the national ANPR standards for policing and law enforcement. Therefore, the Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the impacts on ANPR operations.

The Government published its Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. Further consideration to potential changes will be given following the consultation.

The DVLA continually seeks opportunities to improve the accuracy of the vehicle register and to innovate and enhance its digital services. The DVLA is currently consider the requirement for legislative amendments which may be needed to facilitate updates and improvements to vehicle services.

The personalised registrations scheme has been operated by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) since 1989 and has raised more than £3 billion for HM Treasury. The scheme is operated in line with the law and established terms and conditions, with the primary purpose of maximising returns for the Exchequer.

No specific assessment of trends relating to the immediate resale of registration numbers purchased from auctions has been carried out. Around 30 per cent of registration numbers are purchased by companies who trade in the resale of registration numbers.

Registration number auctions are fair and transparent open market sales. Once a registration number has been purchased, the buyer has the legal right to display that registration number on a vehicle subject to the rules governing the conditions of transfer, retention and assignment of a registration number to a vehicle.

There are no plans to restrict speculative purchasing or the subsequent resale of registration numbers as these activities are lawful and consistent with the nature of an open auction process.

There are also no plans to restrict sales of registration numbers to individuals with a requirement that is assigned to a vehicle registered in the buyer’s name and within a set period of time or otherwise returned. Such a change would represent a significant departure from the current market-based approach and have a significant impact on a well-established number plate market, which includes small and medium enterprises and individuals who wish to sell the rights to their registration number.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To open an account, customers must verify their identify through GOV.UK One Login and this verification process includes an external identity check for verification of personal details, including the address. Information about the account can be found at www.gov.uk/driver-vehicles-account.

Anyone applying for a driving licence for the first time must provide evidence of their identity so that the DVLA can verify and authenticate them. While there is no requirement for an applicant to verify their address, the DVLA does ask applicants applying online to provide current and historical addresses where appropriate to help the identity verification process.

The DVLA also requires proof of identity when a vehicle is first registered. To ensure services are customer friendly and cost effective, when a subsequent application is sent to change the details of a registered keeper there is no requirement to provide proof of identity or address.

It is already an offence to provide false or misleading information and there are no plans to introduce additional checks for driving licence applications or vehicle transactions.

The DVLA’s operational fraud team monitors both vehicle and driving licence records for evidence of fraud and acts on intelligence received from the police and other sources. This includes investigating possible anomalies in the use of addresses provided.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To open an account, customers must verify their identify through GOV.UK One Login and this verification process includes an external identity check for verification of personal details, including the address. Information about the account can be found at www.gov.uk/driver-vehicles-account.

Anyone applying for a driving licence for the first time must provide evidence of their identity so that the DVLA can verify and authenticate them. While there is no requirement for an applicant to verify their address, the DVLA does ask applicants applying online to provide current and historical addresses where appropriate to help the identity verification process.

The DVLA also requires proof of identity when a vehicle is first registered. To ensure services are customer friendly and cost effective, when a subsequent application is sent to change the details of a registered keeper there is no requirement to provide proof of identity or address.

It is already an offence to provide false or misleading information and there are no plans to introduce additional checks for driving licence applications or vehicle transactions.

The DVLA’s operational fraud team monitors both vehicle and driving licence records for evidence of fraud and acts on intelligence received from the police and other sources. This includes investigating possible anomalies in the use of addresses provided.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s Driver and Vehicle Account provides motorists with a single online place to access all its services and information. The account allows customers to update their driving licence and vehicle information. To open an account, customers must verify their identify through GOV.UK One Login and this verification process includes an external identity check for verification of personal details, including the address. Information about the account can be found at www.gov.uk/driver-vehicles-account.

Anyone applying for a driving licence for the first time must provide evidence of their identity so that the DVLA can verify and authenticate them. While there is no requirement for an applicant to verify their address, the DVLA does ask applicants applying online to provide current and historical addresses where appropriate to help the identity verification process.

The DVLA also requires proof of identity when a vehicle is first registered. To ensure services are customer friendly and cost effective, when a subsequent application is sent to change the details of a registered keeper there is no requirement to provide proof of identity or address.

It is already an offence to provide false or misleading information and there are no plans to introduce additional checks for driving licence applications or vehicle transactions.

The DVLA’s operational fraud team monitors both vehicle and driving licence records for evidence of fraud and acts on intelligence received from the police and other sources. This includes investigating possible anomalies in the use of addresses provided.

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented by the EU to improve border security. Whilst the UK Government continues to actively engage with the EU as they continue EES implementation, it is not a UK Government initiative.

It is for individual Member States to determine how to register biometric details. The pre-registration of details does not replace checks by the border authorities.

The UK Government is working closely with the EU as they roll out their EES checks to encourage a streamlined registration process that will minimise disruption for travellers. This is in addition to close engagement that the Department has had with travel operators and hauliers to support their preparation for EES and to reiterate travel requirements for the Schengen area.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is responsible for ensuring that all drivers meet the medical standards required for safe driving, including for eyesight. Drivers who notify the DVLA of a medical condition that may affect their eyesight may be asked to have a formal vision test. These tests are conducted by Specsavers on behalf of the DVLA. The current contract for this purpose was awarded to Specsavers in February 2025 following a competitive tender exercise. There are no plans to introduce a national register of opticians licensed to carry out these tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and others to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of illegal plates.

The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. It is an offence to sell a number plate without carrying out these required checks and can lead to a fine and removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS).

Officials are considering options to ensure more robust application and audit processes which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement of number plate offences is a matter for the police.

Officials are also in discussions with the British Number Plate Manufacturers’ Association about the issue of non-compliant materials.

The DVLA’s enforcement officers work with the police and Trading Standards to carry out educational and compliance visits to registered suppliers. Enforcement officers attend the premises of registered number plate suppliers to check working practices and inspect number plates on the premises. Enforcement officers can inspect records held, take copies and/or seize the records.

In addition, DVLA officers carry out intelligence led enforcement activities to tackle a wide range of offences, actively working with our partners to investigate.