Christine Hempsted thought she was just doing another round of routine paperwork. Logging into the Orange County tax collector’s site in Florida, she renewed her family’s vehicles like she had every year since 2018. But when she clicked on the 2019 blue Toyota Tacoma her family drives daily, the usual renewal button was gone. She figured maybe she’d done a two-year registration by mistake. She hadn’t.

What she discovered instead was that, at least on paper, her truck no longer belonged to them

State records showed the Tacoma had been “transferred” in March. Someone, a stranger, had registered it hundreds of miles away in Massachusetts. Complete with the same make, model, color, and even VIN.

Hempsted still had the truck in her driveway the entire time. But Florida wouldn’t let her renew a registration that, according to the system, didn’t exist anymore.

It took weeks of calls and confusion before anyone figured out what had happened: someone had cloned the Tacoma

Vehicle cloning is essentially automotive identity theft.

Criminals steal a car, then swipe the VIN from a legally registered vehicle of the same type. They tamper with the stolen car’s VIN plate to match, creating a fake twin.

That “new” car now appears legitimate on paper, which makes it easier to sell to unsuspecting buyers or use for illegal activity without drawing attention. It’s not the work of a backyard amateur, either. Law enforcement officials say organized theft rings are often behind cloning operations, and they’re good at making the paperwork look real.

That paperwork is exactly what tripped up the Hempsteds.

Florida and Massachusetts officials initially seemed unsure how to even approach a truck legally registered in two states at once

Eventually, after she contacted Massachusetts directly and consumer investigators started asking questions, the state revoked the fraudulent registration.

More than a month after the ordeal began, she was finally able to register her Tacoma again in Florida.

It’s unclear how the cloning happened or whether anyone has been charged. But the Hempsted family’s experience shows how disruptive cloning can be even if you never lose physical possession of your vehicle.

Owners dealing with a cloned car typically need to contact their state DMV or tax office immediately

Provide proof of ownership, such as the title, bill of sale, and service records. It often takes cooperation between states to clear the records.

Buyers can protect themselves too

Experts advise inspecting VIN plates closely for signs of tampering, checking that the number matches in multiple places on the car, and pulling a vehicle history report before buying.

Cloned vehicles are usually confiscated once discovered. Be aware that buyers almost never get their money back.

The Hempsted Tacoma never left Florida, but it still vanished on paper. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most sophisticated thieves never touch the vehicle at all.