The Vehicle register in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
is a
database
In computing, a database is an organized collection of data or a type of data store based on the use of a database management system (DBMS), the software that interacts with end users, applications, and the database itself to capture and a ...
of
motor vehicle
A motor vehicle, also known as a motorized vehicle, automotive vehicle, automobile, or road vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on railway track, rails (such as trains or trams), does not fly (such ...
s. It is a legal requirement in the UK for most types of motor vehicle to be
registered if they are to be used on the public road.
All new and imported vehicles are required to be entered onto the register, which is administered by the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA; ) is the organisation of the Government of the United Kingdom, British government responsible for maintaining a database of drivers in Great Britain and a Vehicle register, database of vehicles f ...
(DVLA) in
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...
and by
Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) in
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
.
Registered vehicles are not provided with tax certificates anymore in the United Kingdom.
On the register, along with the vehicle details (make, model, engine capacity, colour,
VIN, etc.) are recorded the details of the current keeper of the vehicle (name, address). The current keeper is issued with a registration document known as a
V5C, which displays the registration details of the vehicle. Each time any of the registration details change, if the vehicle keeper is changed, or any of the vehicle details are changed, for example, the DVLA/DVLNI has to be notified, and a new document is issued.
A
vehicle first registration fee has to be paid to enter a vehicle onto the register for the first time.
Database uses
The database is available to the law enforcement authorities for activities such as:
* Vehicle legality checks such as: current
safety certification,
motor insurance and
vehicle licence
*
Police
The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...
traffic law
Traffic codes are laws that generally include provisions relating to the establishment of authority and enforcement procedures, statement of the rules of the road, and other safety provisions. Administrative regulations for driver licensing, ve ...
enforcement
* Automated
camera enforcement of certain traffic laws
Details from the database are also available, for £2.50, to anyone having a good reason to require them. Between 2004 and 2009 the service sold more than 18 million names and addresses charging £44 million. The DVLA stated that they did not make a profit from the service. Commercial vehicle check companies incorporate database details
Car check for consumer protection and anti-fraud purposes. In 2009,
Castrol
Castrol Limited is a British oil company that markets industrial and automotive lubricants, offering a wide range of oil, greases and similar products for most lubrication applications. The company was originally named CC Wakefield; the nam ...
used information from the database to create personalised advertisements to drivers. Five billboards in London
automatically recognised the numberplate and then advised drivers what type of engine oil to use based on the make and age of their car. The DVLA said that such use of the database was "inappropriate" and it was "urgently investigating".
See also
*
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) - the UK duty, or tax, payable to be allowed to use a motor vehicle on a public road
*
Vehicle licence - the UK licence issued for a motor vehicle in return for the appropriate VED having been paid
*
Vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British, Indian and Australian English), license plate (American English) or licence plate (Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for ...
*
U.S. and Canadian license plates
References
{{Reflist
External links
Vehicle Licensing - DVLAQuebec (SAAQ)Parkplatzbeschilderung(in German)
Government databases in the United Kingdom
Vehicle law