DVLA driver data sale clampdown

New rules have been introduced to clamp down on the misuse of personal information resulting from the sale of motorist details from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) vehicle database to private sector companies.

The government was forced to tighten up the data access rules after the DVLA revealed it made £6.3m in the last year from selling access to the names and addresses of motorists to private sector companies such as wheel clampers, bailiffs and debt collection agencies.

Any private sector company or individual is currently able to find out the name and address of a vehicle owner from the DVLA for an administrative fee of £2.50 providing they can demonstrate "reasonable cause".

But because there is no legal definition of "reasonable cause" this raised concerns there is not enough scrutiny of the companies and individuals making the requests for driver details.

Transport minister Stephen Ladyman said the new measures are designed to protect people from misuse of their personal information, while allowing those who do have genuine cause to access the data.

There will now be detailed guidance on what constitutes "reasonable cause" to receive information. Organisations making data-access requests to the DVLA must now be members of an accredited trade association.

Organisations found to use DVLA data improperly will have any future requests for access refused and a new complaints procedure has been introduced for those drivers who believe their data has been misused.