DVLA Accredited Trade Associations (ATAs)

At DVLA we have tough safeguards in place to protect the privacy of information held within the vehicle register. One of those safeguards is that all unregulated organisations requesting information from us via a secure electronic link must be a member of a DVLA Accredited Trade Association (ATA).

Accredited Trade Associations (ATAs)
All ATAs must have an enforceable code of practice governing the conduct and operations of their members. The code of practice has to be published on the ATA’s website along with contact details for enquiries and complaints.

We require that ATAs:

• Maintain records of all complaints and their resolutions;
• Monitor members to ensure compliance with the code of practice;
• Undertake to expel or suspend any member that fails to comply with the code of practice and notify us within 24 hours of the expulsion or suspension;
• Investigate at our request any complaints about an alleged breach of the code of practice or misuse of DVLA information and report the outcome back to us.

Those ATAs that fail to enforce their code of practice could lose their DVLA accreditation which, in turn, would mean their members will no longer be able to request DVLA information.

Additional measures for car parking companies

In order to ensure motorists are treated fairly when a parking charge is levied all car parking companies seeking access to DVLA data must be a member of an ATA whose code of practice includes, amongst other guidance, procedures on appeals and the maximum parking charge that can be applied.

Existing ATAs
We have approved the following ATAs:

• The British Parking Association (BPA)
• Information about the BPA’s Approved Operators Scheme can be found on their website at www.britishparking.co.uk
• The Association of British Investigators (ABI) www.theabi.org.uk
• The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) www.fla.org.uk
• British Oil Security Syndicate (BOSS) www.bossuk.org
• Consumer Credit Trade Association (CCTA) www.ccta.co.uk

Promoting self regulation
Our policy of requiring companies requesting DVLA information to be members of an ATA is a positive and measured move. We believe it will promote greater self regulation and further reinforce protection of motorists’ privacy.