Specific weaknesses place the remarketing sector under increased threat from cybercrime, Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) members heard at their first meeting of 2026.
Mark Rodbert, CEO at idax Software, explained that rapid staff turnover in environments such as dealerships made it challenging to create a cybersecurity-aware culture, while the large amount of financial information gathered about customers for motor finance made businesses attractive targets.
“Hackers only have to succeed once to cause damage, whereas businesses need to be vigilant all the time, so cybersecurity is always a difficult area, but there are some signs that it is a war where we are successfully fighting back.
“The important thing to realise is that cybercriminals pinpoint very human weaknesses, and the people carrying out the attacks are experts. This is their job. Resistance starts with creating the right culture among your people.”
The meeting – held at the Meriden offices of epyx – covered remarketing and crime, including trends in vehicle theft, “ghost” number plates, and clocking.
Philip Nothard, VRA chair, said: “The types of crime affecting remarketing are constantly changing and adapting, and our members are very much aware of the financial and reputational impact of becoming victims.
“In this meeting, we provided a comprehensive briefing covering important areas where crime is a growing concern, and provided useful ideas that should help them to resist criminal activity.”
Chris Worton‑Smith, National Sales Manager at Jepson, talked to the meeting about the rise of ghost plates.
“This is a subject that has received a lot of publicity but more importantly, has helped to highlight that number plate security in the UK is surrounded by many structural problems. Becoming a number plate supplier is too easy and there are just four people employed to audit 34,000 suppliers.
“Perhaps more importantly, out of 118 countries, the UK and Ireland are the only two not to include some form of security marks on their plates. It has been too easy to make, sell, and buy plates that are not just non-compliant with regulations but are sometimes used to commit crimes.
“Thankfully, the DVLA and the government seem to have recognised the need for change, and there are a range of positive steps underway, with some included in the official new Road Safety Strategy.”
Steve Whitaker, Police Liaison Manager at Tracker Network, said the rise in modern vehicle theft is being driven by increasingly accessible and sophisticated criminal technology, often used by highly organised and internationally connected gangs.
“Keyless theft remains the most significant challenge we face. Manufacturers are continually working to strengthen vehicle security, but as technology advances, organised criminals quickly adapt.
“For the remarketing sector, there are several effective measures — from strengthened key handling processes to enhanced auction‑day security — but the most powerful defence is greater awareness. Understanding today’s risks is crucial to staying ahead of evolving theft tactics.”
As well as covering crime, the VRA meeting also received an in-depth briefing on the present new and used car markets from Chris Plumb, head of current car valuations at cap hpi.
“December ended on a slow note, with retailers telling us the lateness of the Budget served as a damper and that consumers mentally switched straight over to Christmas, removing a lot of sales potential.
“The news about January so far is much positive, with general feedback suggesting sales have been in line with expectations. In fact, our overall forecast for 2026 is that it will fairly normal year, despite major trends such as rising levels of pre-registrations and the effects of the Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme.”
The VRA is planning to hold five further member meetings during 2026, with the next taking place at the Cox Automotive premises of Bruntingthorpe on 26 March. Further details about attending meetings can be obtained by emailing info@thevra.co.uk.