Yes, a fine can land with you even if your car was stolen or your plates were cloned, because notices go to the registered owner. Report it to police, don’t pay, and tell the issuing authority before the due date. Only some states say in plain words how they handle theft, so check your notice.
Check your fine for free →Free case-strength check first, and if your grounds are weak we’ll tell you · one flat price, $10 parking & toll, $15 everything elseCameras photograph a plate, and the notice goes to whoever the registry says owns that plate. That is you, whether the person behind the wheel was a thief, a joyrider or someone running copied plates on a similar car. The system does not know the difference until you tell it, which is why the first job is to speak up before the due date.
It works the same way as fines for a car you sold and rental car fines: the owner is the starting point, and the way out is to show who was really responsible.
Stolen vehicle: your car was taken and the offence happened while it was gone. The photo will usually show your car, so the proof is the timing: when you discovered the theft, when you reported it, and the offence date on the notice.
Cloned or stolen plates: your car is where it should be, but someone is driving another vehicle with your plate number. Here the photo is your best evidence, because the car in it may be a different make, model or colour. Compare it carefully with your own car, and ask for the photo if the notice did not include one (see how to view your camera fine photo).
Most states do not publish a dedicated page for stolen vehicles or plates. This is what we could find on the official pages, and where they are silent:
| State | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Victoria | Fines Victoria says to nominate if you believe the vehicle or number plates were stolen or cloned, and not to pay. Nomination is only possible at the infringement notice or penalty reminder stage, and it is too late once a final demand is issued. The form must be received before the due date. Excessive-speed fines need nominating within 28 days of the notice date. |
| Queensland | You can transfer a fine if the vehicle was stolen or illegally taken before the fine was issued. A Queensland Police report number is required, and the theft must also be reported to the Department of Transport and Main Roads first. The online service needs the fine unpaid and within 28 days of the infringement date; not transferring within 28 days of the notice date can lead to enforcement action and demerit points. Cloned plates are not addressed. |
| ACT | Access Canberra’s infringement form has an option to declare someone else responsible if you sold the vehicle, reported it stolen or do not know who was responsible. A false statement is an offence. Withdrawal requests are a separate route with their own guidelines, and the page warns of significant delays. |
| Western Australia | For business-owned vehicles, the Notice Requesting Information lets the business respond “vehicle stolen or unknown driver”; if details cannot be provided, the business pays double the individual penalty. For private vehicles the page covers nominating the driver but does not mention theft or a police report. The Department of Transport’s lost/stolen plates form is about replacing plates and does not mention fines. |
| NSW | The nomination page covers only “you weren’t driving” and “you sold the vehicle”. The review page lists a mistake such as “the wrong vehicle” as a ground, but does not name stolen vehicles. |
| Tasmania | If you were not the driver, you complete a statutory declaration naming the correct driver and send it to Traffic Liaison Services. Theft and cloning are not mentioned. |
| South Australia | The SA Law Handbook lists grounds for withdrawal that include not committing the offence, and says an owner who was not the driver can name the driver. It does not mention theft or cloning. |
| Northern Territory | We could not find an official page covering this. Follow the instructions on your notice. |
“Not mentioned” does not mean you have no options. It means we could not confirm an official process, so ask the authority on your notice. Pages were checked on 5 November 2026 and can change.
Be accurate in everything you declare. Several states treat a false statement as an offence, and a nomination can be rejected if the person is not correctly identified.
Sometimes there is no theft report because you did not know, or the offence date came before you noticed. You can still ask for a review and explain what happened, with whatever you have. The authority decides, and we cannot predict the result. The evidence guide covers what reviewers look for, and paying before you dispute explains why it pays to wait.
Fight My Fine asks a few plain-English questions, gives you a free read on how strong your grounds are, and tells you honestly if they are weak. Then it drafts an editable letter for the right authority. One flat price: $10 for parking and unpaid-toll fines, $15 for all other fine types. If we rate your dispute Strong and the authority does not budge, you get your full fee back. The authority makes the decision, and we never predict it.
A printable checklist of what to gather, what to check and what to send before the due date. Pop in your email and it’s yours.
Notices go to the registered owner, so yes, one can reach you. Victoria and Queensland both say a stolen vehicle is a reason to hand the fine on or transfer it, and the ACT lists “reported it stolen” as an option on its infringement form. Respond before the due date and keep your police report.
Of the official pages we could read, only Fines Victoria names stolen or cloned number plates as a reason to nominate. For other states, contact the issuing authority named on the notice straight away, report it to police, and send evidence that the car in the photo is not yours, such as a different make, model or colour.
Not if you believe it is not yours. Fines Victoria and Queensland both say not to pay if you are handing the fine on, and Queensland notes that a paid fine is finalised. If the due date is close, contact the authority and ask what you can do.
Queensland requires a Queensland Police report number for a stolen-vehicle transfer, and you must also report the theft to the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Other states’ pages we read do not list a required document, but a police report is the obvious evidence to keep and attach.
Fight My Fine is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and this article is general information, not legal advice. Fines rules, deadlines and fees change and differ by state, so the dates on your own notice always come first. Outcomes depend on your circumstances and the issuing authority’s decision, and nothing here is a prediction or guarantee. For serious matters or anything heading to court, speak with a qualified lawyer or a free legal service.