Discovering the car owner's information

Has your vehicle or property sustained damage from a hit-and-run incident? Has someone unlawfully left their car on your premises? Discovering the owner's identity and resolving the issue can be achieved through the following steps.

May I inquire with the DVLA regarding the owner of a vehicle?

Absolutely, as long as you possess a valid reason. In order for the DVLA to disclose information regarding the registered keeper of a vehicle, they must be convinced that you have "reasonable cause." The specific criteria for this are elaborated below.

Under what circumstances can I request information from the DVLA about a vehicle's registered keeper?

Acquiring details about a vehicle's owner requires the presence of "reasonable cause." Below are several examples provided by the DVLA:

• Identifying the accountable party in an accident
• Tracing the registered keeper of an abandoned vehicle
• Tracing the registered keeper of a vehicle parked on private land
• Issuing parking tickets
• Issuing trespass charge notices
• Tracing individuals who have failed to pay for goods and services
• Tracing individuals suspected of insurance fraud

Does this mean that unauthorized parking companies can access my address to issue illegal tickets?

No, it does not. Private parking companies seeking access to your personal information from the DVLA database to issue tickets or trespass notices must be members of either the British Parking Association or the International Parking Community. This affiliation offers protection against unscrupulous entities.

• READ MORE: WHAT HAPPENS TO A CAR IF THE OWNER DIES?

How can I submit a request to obtain information about a vehicle's registered keeper?

Unfortunately, unlike most modern processes, there is no online mechanism for accessing this information. Therefore, you will need to download a form (or collect it from a post office counter) and submit your application via mail.

Individuals must download form V888, while companies involved in issuing parking or trespass notices must utilize form V888/3.

If a company does not issue parking or trespass notices, they are entitled to request information pertaining to a specific vehicle on a certain date. This information may include:

• Name and address details of the vehicle's keeper - form V888/2A
• Any other relevant information regarding the vehicle (such as insurance company details) - use form V888/2B

Do I need to pay for information regarding the ownership of a vehicle?

Yes. Individuals must remit a payment of £5 to obtain details about a vehicle's owner.

The cost for requesting vehicle information from companies that issue parking or trespass notices will be £2.50 per request.

For companies that do not issue parking or trespass notices, the fee will be £5.

What details do I need about the other vehicle?

As long as you have the registration number of the car, you will be able to access ownership details. If the license plates are missing from an abandoned car, you can check the windows to see if they have been engraved with the plate information.

Authored by: Pete Barden:

Twitter Handle: @pete_barden

Pete Barden is a certified journalist with experience writing and producing for various publications such as The Sun (thesun.co.uk), New Statesman Media Group, Whatcar? (Whatcar.com), Stuff Magazine (Stuff.tv), Fastcar Magazine (Fastcar.co.uk), Maxim Magazine, and UK broadcast stations within the Heart network (Formerly GCAP). Pete specializes in creating content related to automotive and travel, in addition to his roles in news and production. Discover more about Pete Barden on LinkedIn.

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