Fake vehicle parts worth over £100,000 seized in major operation
Safety warning as more than 3,600 illegal parts seized by officials in South Gloucestershire self-storage raid.
Main developments:
- more than 3,600 potentially dangerous fake vehicle parts worth more than £100,000 seized by officials in South Gloucestershire self-storage raid - including spark plugs, oil filters and sensors
- counterfeit parts bypass safety testing and are more likely to fail - putting road users at serious risk
- one in six UK motorists say they have bought fake parts - often without knowing at the time that they were counterfeits
- motorists warned never to risk buying fake and to always be cautious when buying vehicle parts - particularly from unfamiliar suppliers online
Potentially lethal fake vehicle parts have been seized by authorities in a major operation in South Gloucestershire. The operation saw South Gloucestershire Trading Standards remove more than 3,600 counterfeit branded components from a trader operating from a self-storage facility. The value of the items seized is estimated at more than £100,000.
Counterfeit vehicle parts are unauthorised fake copies, designed to look like genuine parts. They are sold illegally to defraud consumers and businesses, and are usually made with vastly inferior materials and manufacturing processes.
These parts can pose significant safety risks, leading to malfunctions, accidents, and potential fatalities. They bypass the rigorous testing required for genuine products, making them far more likely to fail and cause accidents. Often failing quickly, they offer no safety guarantees and could put drivers, passengers and other road users at risk - causing expensive damage to vehicles or, worse, serious accidents.
The South Gloucestershire operation, supported by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) through the Tick Box Scheme, involved enforcement teams from eight major car manufacturers. Targeting a sophisticated counterfeiting operation, it uncovered illegal parts ready for widespread distribution to the motoring public.
Seized items in South Gloucestershire included fake spark plugs, oil filters, air filters, fuel filters, windscreen wipers and sensors. Officers also discovered counterfeit parts in plain packaging alongside sheets of unused counterfeit labels.
This latest seizure reflects a wider ongoing threat to the UK public. A separate raid by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) in East London last September saw three arrested over sale of dangerous counterfeit car airbags, highlighting the persistent threat posed by fake automotive parts nationwide.
Research published last year by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimated that counterfeit vehicle parts imported to the UK were worth almost £2.2 billion in 2021.
A recent IPO survey also revealed that one in six motorists had bought a counterfeit part in the previous 12 months alone. Many did so unknowingly, only finding out the part was fake when it faulted, or during routine service checks.
The IPO survey also revealed that the most commonly purchased counterfeit parts are those which pose the most significant safety risks. These include car batteries (bought by 25% of those admitting to buying fakes), tyres/wheels (23%), and critically, brake pads or discs (12%) and airbags (14%).
More than two in five motorists (45%) who bought a fake that they thought was genuine, found out through their garage after the part faulted. Around one in three (30%) only became aware the part was fake during routine service checks.
The IPO has published detailed guidance for motorists and garages on how to spot, avoid selling or installing and report fake vehicle parts. This guidance has been developed in partnership with the motoring industry.
Red flags include:
- vague product descriptions
- poor quality packaging
- missing safety guidelines
- incorrect serial numbers
- misspellings on parts or packaging; instructions in a language other than expected
The IPO and Trading Standards are urging motorists and garages to remain vigilant when purchasing parts, particularly online or from unfamiliar suppliers. Anyone with concerns about a suspicious vehicle part or trader should report these to Trading Standards.
The Intellectual Property Office’s Deputy Director of Enforcement Helen Barnham said:
Counterfeit vehicle parts can lead to life-changing or life-ending consequences for road users. This is anything but a victimless crime.
These fake parts bypass safety tests and are often made with vastly inferior materials, putting them at serious risk of failure with potentially devastating results.
This latest seizure demonstrates that criminals are continuing to exploit the use of legitimate self storage facilities across the UK to store counterfeit goods.
We’re working closely with law enforcement across the UK to stay ahead of the criminals, but motorists must stay vigilant, especially when buying parts online. Our message is clear: fake always breaks.
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Trading Standards, Councillor Sean Rhodes, said:
Counterfeit vehicle parts are not just illegal - they are potentially lethal. Our Trading Standards team, working with national partners and industry experts, has acted decisively to protect motorists and the wider public. We urge everyone to be vigilant when buying vehicle parts, especially online, and to report anything suspicious. Safety must come first, and this seizure sends a clear message that we will not tolerate criminal activity that could put lives at risk.
Toyota Motor Europe Brand Protection Operations Responsible, Alper Demirci said:
Counterfeit vehicle parts can pose a real threat to the health and safety of our customers. At Toyota Motor Europe, we greatly value our collaboration with enforcement agencies in our fight against counterfeiting. We thank South Gloucestershire Trading Standards and the UK Intellectual Property Office for their support and swift action here, helping to protect the motoring public.
Stellantis Corporate & Brand Protection Investigations Manager, Paul Foster said:
Stellantis works closely with law enforcement agencies and other vehicle manufacturers to identify and remove counterfeit car parts which can risk customer safety and vehicle reliability. We thank South Gloucestershire Trading Standards for their prompt action in this case, helping protect UK motorists against the harms of illegal and potentially dangerous fake goods.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)’s Chief Executive, Mike Hawes said:
The automotive industry invests billions developing parts and components that are safe, reliable and built to last, with many governed by stringent UN ECE Regulations for on-road use. Parts which fail to meet such standards, or are counterfeit, pose a safety and environmental risk to motorists and other road users.
Clamping down on their availability and building consumer awareness is crucial to keep Britain’s roads safe so this collaboration between manufacturers, law enforcement and regulators is essential.
Investigations following the operation remain ongoing.
Additional Info:
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the Tick Box scheme helps protect self-storage facilities from criminal exploitation by providing guidance to operators on identifying suspicious activity and connecting them directly with local Trading Standards Officers
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counterfeit vehicle parts are unauthorised copies of a genuine branded part - be it an (OEM) part supplied by car manufacturers or an aftermarket part. An aftermarket part is anything not supplied by a vehicle manufacturer under their own brand name. Criminals target both categories. Counterfeit parts are usually made from inferior materials and are not safety-tested, increasing the risk of failure
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last year the Intellectual Property Office conducted the ‘Fake Always Breaks’ national awareness campaign warning of the dangers of buying counterfeit vehicle parts. This brought targeted social media and industry voices together, highlighting to consumers and the motor trade that counterfeits are more likely to fail and endanger road users. Supported by vehicle manufacturers including Mercedes Benz and law enforcement bodies such as the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), it demonstrated that the trade in counterfeit parts not only enriches criminals, but puts lives at risk
Figures from the IPO’s survey also reveal:
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although many purchases of counterfeit vehicle parts are made unknowingly, almost three fifths (58%) of motorists said they made their purchase knowing the part was counterfeit
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such purchases made unknowingly are often uncovered at a later stage. More than two in five motorists (45%) who bought a fake that they thought was genuine, found out through their garage after the part faulted. 30% became aware during routine service checks
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getting parts for a lower price was a significant factor among those intentionally buying a fake part, with three in ten (31%) citing cost savings as a reason
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a third (34%) of motorists who admitted to buying fake parts said they did so because they felt there was no discernible difference in appearance (34%)
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the South Gloucestershire raids took place in July 2025 and can now be reported. We are unable to provide further details while investigations remain ongoing