Archive Website of the UK government

Cars parking on private property

Releasing vehicle information to landowners or their agents helps to find the keeper of a vehicle that has:

• obstructed access to land or property
• been abandoned on private property
• been parked without payment of the relevant fees
• been parked without the right to do so, eg in a space reserved for disabled motorists

Releasing information where fraud is suspected

DVLA will release information to find the keeper of a vehicle that has driven off without paying for road, tunnel or bridge charges.

Petrol stations and garages can find the vehicle keeper who has left without paying for fuel, or has paid for fuel or repairs dishonestly.

Loss adjusters and insurance companies can obtain vehicle keeper information when they are investigating road traffic accidents and fraudulent theft claims.

Information can help find a previous vehicle keeper, as part of an investigation, into suspected vehicle ‘clocking’ offences under the Trade Descriptions Act.

Information to help with financial issues

There are many instances where DVLA will release information where there are large financial implications.

It can help reduce crime by helping finance companies find the keeper of a vehicle who has fraudulently got a leasing or loan agreement on the vehicle.

Information can help a court appointed receiver or liquidator work out vehicle assets during insolvency proceedings.

A vehicle’s keeper can be confirmed to help debt collection agents, acting under a court order, take the vehicle.

Information disclosed if there’s been an accident or incident

Insurance companies, acting for a policyholder, can ask for information to help trace other parties involved in a road traffic accident or incident.

A vehicle’s keeper, involved in a minor hit and run incident that doesn’t call for a full police investigation, can be found. This could include personal injury or damage to a vehicle or property.

Solicitors, acting for a client, can find the keeper of a vehicle involved in an accident or incident, or where the vehicle is involved in legal proceedings.

Other circumstances where information can be released

There are many other situations where ‘reasonable cause’ can be used for the release of information from the DVLA vehicle register. These include:

• vehicle manufacturers or distributors needing contact details for a vehicle safety recall
• an executor of an estate needing to confirm vehicle assets
• a current registered keeper wanting to trace their vehicle's full history

More useful links

• Release of information from DVLA registers

Useful Contacts

• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) contacts