Privacy guidance explains when DVLA can share car owner's details

The guidance explains to individuals the circumstances where the information might be shared without breaking data protection rules.

The DVLA keeps a register containing details of all vehicles licensed for use on the road and can pass details from the register to a third party for a number of legitimate reasons. That might be to identify vehicles on the road to help prevent and detect crime, to investigate suspected insurance fraud, to improve road safety or to ensure that vehicles are properly taxed.

Although the DVLA does not have to obtain permission before passing an individual’s details to other people, the person or organisation requesting the information must prove that they have ‘reasonable cause’ to obtain an individual’s details.

For example, a company requesting information to enforce parking fees must also provide evidence that a parking charge scheme actually exists and that drivers are made aware that the scheme is in force.

“The DVLA passes on information from its register to third parties for a variety of legitimate reasons," said Phil Jones, Assistant Commissioner at the ICO. "However, the person or organisation requesting the information must always provide evidence to the DVLA which shows why their request is reasonable. It is an offence under the Data Protection Act to unlawfully obtain information, for example by misleading the DVLA as to why the information is required.”