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DVLA makes £22 million selling drivers’ private details to parking enforcement firms
The DVLA has made nearly £22 million in the past four-and-a-half-years selling drivers' private details to parking enforcement firms, it has emerged.
The income has been rising annually, with the Government agency set to make £7.3 million this year, having taken £4.3 million between April and October.
The information includes drivers' names and address as well as vehicle details and is often used by companies to issue and collect fines.
Last year, the DVLA made £6 million from personal data sales, more than double the £2.9 million it made in 2010-11.
The DVLA also made £3.7 million in 2011-12 and a further £4.8 million in 2012-13 – making a total of £21.7 million in four-and-a-half years.
Approved firms are charged £2.50 a time, meaning that since 2011, they have bought access to the private details of nearly 8.7 million drivers.
A total of 31 companies have paid for data over the period, despite many facing criticism from motorists over their behaviour.
Parking Eye, which is the biggest spender since 2011 at more than £7 million, lost a court battle this year after fining a driver who circled a car park looking for a space.
Another company, Excel Parking, which has spent £1.1 million, has been accused of acting unfairly and ignoring a court ruling over its signs by BBC One's Watchdog.
Parking enforcers Observices admitted misleading motorists and was fined along with one of its directors. But the company has gone on to spend more than £66,000 buying details of thousands of drivers.
The latest figures have been released by the DVLA in response to a freedom of information request.
The response stated that the DVLA does not profit from the sales, and added: "The fees are set to recover the related administrative costs and this means that it is the applicant and not the taxpayer who funds this activity."
It denied the sales breach of Data Protection laws, and continued: "Landowners would have great difficulty in enforcing their rights if motorists were able to park with impunity on private property.
"If it is alleged that the terms of the contract are breached, it is considered reasonable that vehicle keeper details may be released in order to enable the landowner or his agent the opportunity to pursue their legal rights.
"If this were not the case, motorists would be able to park with disregard for the law or the rights of landowners, with no prospect of being held to account for their actions."
The DVLA stressed it has strict of criteria for those using its electronic database, including valid Data Protection registration, probation periods and audits to monitor behaviour and use of data.
The income has been rising annually, with the Government agency set to make £7.3 million this year, having taken £4.3 million between April and October.
The information includes drivers' names and address as well as vehicle details and is often used by companies to issue and collect fines.
Last year, the DVLA made £6 million from personal data sales, more than double the £2.9 million it made in 2010-11.
The DVLA also made £3.7 million in 2011-12 and a further £4.8 million in 2012-13 – making a total of £21.7 million in four-and-a-half years.
Approved firms are charged £2.50 a time, meaning that since 2011, they have bought access to the private details of nearly 8.7 million drivers.
A total of 31 companies have paid for data over the period, despite many facing criticism from motorists over their behaviour.
Parking Eye, which is the biggest spender since 2011 at more than £7 million, lost a court battle this year after fining a driver who circled a car park looking for a space.
Another company, Excel Parking, which has spent £1.1 million, has been accused of acting unfairly and ignoring a court ruling over its signs by BBC One's Watchdog.
Parking enforcers Observices admitted misleading motorists and was fined along with one of its directors. But the company has gone on to spend more than £66,000 buying details of thousands of drivers.
The latest figures have been released by the DVLA in response to a freedom of information request.
The response stated that the DVLA does not profit from the sales, and added: "The fees are set to recover the related administrative costs and this means that it is the applicant and not the taxpayer who funds this activity."
It denied the sales breach of Data Protection laws, and continued: "Landowners would have great difficulty in enforcing their rights if motorists were able to park with impunity on private property.
"If it is alleged that the terms of the contract are breached, it is considered reasonable that vehicle keeper details may be released in order to enable the landowner or his agent the opportunity to pursue their legal rights.
"If this were not the case, motorists would be able to park with disregard for the law or the rights of landowners, with no prospect of being held to account for their actions."
The DVLA stressed it has strict of criteria for those using its electronic database, including valid Data Protection registration, probation periods and audits to monitor behaviour and use of data.
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