Get a Very Nice Transaction with the Private Registration
Since it started to trade over 5 years ago, it has been disclosed that the DVLA has sold more than 18 million names and addresses of drivers to clamping companies and other private parking firms. The UK Government agency is believed to have made approximately £43 Million from selling the data, although it stresses it does not make any profit from the sales. The DVLA, who also sell private registration plates, charges £2.50 per name and address, with the most common request from private parking companies requesting information on drivers who have failed to pay outstanding fines.
In 2009, a huge row erupted after the oil firm Castrol used number plate recognition technology coupled with data mined from the DVLA database to show personalised posters to drivers. There were so many complaints that Castrol abandoned the scheme after just a few days and the DVLA publicly stated that its data should not be used any type of marketing purpose.
Questioned about the current scheme, The DVLA confirmed that it only releases information to official agencies like the police (who have a legal right to it) or to someone who has reasonable cause to request it such as someone who has suffered material loss or injury.