Using Fake License Plates Gets You Fined? Here Are the Rules, Fines, and Risks

Vehicle license plates are not just accessories. On the road, license plates are the official identity of the vehicle that is directly connected to registration data such as STNK and BPKB. Therefore, violating with fake plates is a serious offense that can lead to fines, penalties, and other legal risks that harm the vehicle owner.

If you are still curious, “do you get fined for using fake plates?”, the answer is clear: yes, you can get fined. In fact, in some conditions, the case can escalate to more serious consequences.

What is a Fake License Plate and Why is it Considered an Offense?

A fake license plate is Motor Vehicle Number Sign (TNKB) that is unofficial, meaning it is not issued by the authorities and does not match the vehicle registration data.

These fake plates are often used for various purposes, ranging from “just for style” to attempts to avoid tracking. In fact, using TNKB that does not comply with regulations is considered traffic violations.

Here are examples of cases that often occur in the field:

Modified numbers/letters, for example, painted over or made to resemble other characters
Using “pretty” plates that are not officially registered to the vehicle
Plates differ from STNK, for example, a vehicle with Plate A but using Plate B
Fake plates to avoid electronic fines (ETLE) so they are not read by ETLE cameras.

In essence, as long as the license plate used does not match the vehicle's identity, it has the potential to fall into the category of violations.

Legal Regulations on Fake License Plates in Indonesia (Legal Basis)

In Indonesia, the article regarding fake license plates is stated in Law No. 22 of 2009 Article 280 which states:

“Anyone who drives a Motor Vehicle on the Road that is not equipped with a Motor Vehicle Number Sign as determined by the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia as referred to in Article 68 paragraph (1) shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 2 (two) months or a fine of up to Rp500,000.00 (five hundred thousand rupiah).” So if you use fake plates, you can be fined up to 500 thousand rupiah.

In practice, cases of fake license plates can fall into two realms:

Administrative violations (plates not compliant)
For example, plates that do not match the format, do not meet specifications, or do not match vehicle data.
Indications of forgery (can enter the criminal realm)
If it is proven that there is an element of intentionally falsifying vehicle identity, especially if used for certain actions, the risks can be more severe.

In essence, although it initially seems like “just changing plates,” the impact can escalate to serious legal issues.

Additional Sanctions That May Occur

In addition to fines, there are several other consequences that often occur, such as:

Vehicle temporarily detained for inspection
Required to replace the plate with official TNKB according to regulations
Inspection of STNK/BPKB documents to ensure the vehicle is legal

If the vehicle data is problematic, the process can become longer and more troublesome.

Risk of ETLE (Electronic Ticketing)

Many people use fake plates because they want to “avoid the camera.” In fact, this can backfire.

Common risks that arise:

Data does not match during verification
Confirmation letters can get lost or data errors may occur
Potential summons/further investigation if there are indications of serious violations

In short, electronic fines can make violations easier to track.

Risks When Claiming Insurance

This is often overlooked: fake license plates can be a problem when claiming insurance.

If the vehicle identity is not valid or does not match the documents, the claim process can: