Data release protecting motorists’ freedom

With over 34 million vehicles on Britain’s roads it is becoming an ever more complex task to keep motorists moving safely and legally. DVLA plays a major role in the process through the properly controlled release of data from the vehicle register.

In all matters regarding data release we act responsibly and in accordance with legislation.

A shared responsibility
Being a motorist offers the potential to choose where to live, work, shop and play. It enables a spirit of adventure and the opportunity to travel the land with friends and family. Above all, being a motorist means freedom.

But freedom comes with responsibility. Vehicles need to be taxed, insured, financed and MOT certificated. Equally, motorists are obliged to abide by road traffic regulations and to park considerately and in compliance with the relevant terms.

It’s by efficiently managing Britain’s vehicle and driver registers that DVLA makes such a massive contribution to motoring freedom. By enabling the release of information in appropriate circumstances we add to the quality of life for millions of responsible motorists every day of the year.

Wide-ranging benefits
In addition to providing information to the police and local authorities, the properly controlled release of DVLA vehicle data to third party organisations offers a host of practical motoring benefits: 

• Local authorities use DVLA information for on-road parking enforcement and dealing with abandoned and nuisance vehicles; 
• Information released to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) helps it improve the roadworthiness standards of vehicles through MOT certification and ensure the compliance of vehicle operators and drivers. 
• Motor manufacturers can request information from us if it becomes necessary to issue vehicle safety recall notices and remove potentially dangerous vehicles from use.
• We provide information to Transport for London for the enforcement of congestion charging, which aims to reduce vehicle numbers and emissions in the city centre.  
• Insurance companies use DVLA information to pursue claims following accidents, to investigate fraud and to trace uninsured motorists. 

In so many different ways, DVLA data release helps keep Britain’s traffic moving and motorists safe.

Support for car park efficiencies
The roads in town and city centres would become unbearably congested if it wasn’t for efficient parking facilities.

Motorists can choose which car parks they use but, in doing so, there comes the responsibility of complying with the land owner’s parking terms. When vehicles are parked without authorisation, without consideration for other motorists or pedestrians, or without paying the appropriate fee then it is reasonable for the land owner or its agent to seek redress through parking charge notices. DVLA enables this to happen by releasing information under strictly controlled conditions.

If it wasn’t for DVLA data release, land owners would have few alternatives other than wheel clamping (in England and Wales) or vehicle removal, both of which burden motorists with additional costs and inconvenience without resolving the nuisance of unauthorised parking quickly.

Since the 23 November 2009 all car parking companies that request information from the vehicle register must be a member of a DVLA Accredited Trade Association (ATA) and be fully compliant with their mandatory code of practice. This is just one of the many measures we have introduced to safeguard information, increase accountability within the car parking industry and raise the standards of parking services for the benefit of all responsible motorists.