Vehicle register
Encyclopedia
The Vehicle register in the United Kingdom
is a database
of motor vehicle
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
(DVLA) in Great Britain
and by Driver & Vehicle Agency
(DVA) in Northern Ireland
.
Registered vehicles are provided with a unique registration number which has to be displayed on the vehicle on specified registration plates.
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.
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
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".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
is a database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
of motor vehicle
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...
s. It is a legal requirement in the UK for most types of motor vehicle to be registered
Vehicle registration
Vehicle registration is the compulsory registration of a vehicle with a government authority. Vehicle registration's purpose is to establish clear ownership and to tax motorists or vehicle owners....
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
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is the organisation of the UK Government responsible for maintaining a database of drivers and a database of vehicles in Great Britain; its counterpart in Northern Ireland is the Driver & Vehicle Agency...
(DVLA) in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and by Driver & Vehicle Agency
Driver & Vehicle Agency
The Driver & Vehicle Agency is a government agency of the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment. It was created in early 2007 through the merger of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland and the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency .The merger brought together roles which are...
(DVA) in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Registered vehicles are provided with a unique registration number which has to be displayed on the vehicle on specified registration plates.
On the register, along with the vehicle details (make, model, engine capacity, colour, VIN
Vin
Vin may refer to:*Voltage input, an alternative form for Vin-People:*Vin Diesel*Vin Scully*Vin Suprynowicz*Vin, the name of a character from the video games Jak II and Jak 3*a diminutive of the name "Vincent"...
, 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
Vehicle first registration fee
The Vehicle first registration fee is the fee charged by the Government of the United Kingdom to register a vehicle for the first time with the DVLA.In 2006 the applicable fee was £38.00.In 2008 the applicable fee was £55.00-References:...
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 certificationMOT (test)The Ministry of Transport test is an annual test of automobile safety, roadworthiness aspects and exhaust emissions required for most vehicles over three years old used on public roads in the United Kingdom....
, motor insurance and vehicle licenceVehicle licenceA valid vehicle licence is required by law in some countries to be displayed on any registered motor vehicle if it is to be used or kept on a public road.-Worldwide:... - PolicePolicing in the United KingdomLaw enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland ....
traffic law 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
Car check
-United Kingdom:The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency , better known as the DVLA, are an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport . The Agency is accountable to the Secretary of State and Ministers and, through them, to Parliament and the public, for efficient and effective management of...
for consumer protection and anti-fraud purposes. In 2009, Castrol
Castrol
Castrol is a brand of industrial and automotive lubricants which is applied to a large range of oils, greases and similar products for most lubrication applications...
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 DutyVehicle excise dutyVehicle Excise Duty is a vehicle road use tax levied as an excise duty which must be paid for most types of vehicle which are to be used on the public roads in the United Kingdom...
(VED) - the UK duty, or tax, payable to be allowed to use a motor vehicle on a public road - Vehicle licenceVehicle licenceA valid vehicle licence is required by law in some countries to be displayed on any registered motor vehicle if it is to be used or kept on a public road.-Worldwide:...
- the UK licence issued for a motor vehicle in return for the appropriate VED having been paid - Vehicle registration plateVehicle registration plateA vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...
- U.S. and Canadian license plates
External links
- Vehicle Registration Great Britain - DVLA
- Northern Ireland - DVLNI
- Quebec (SAAQ)
- IrishLicensePlates.com - Database of vehicles registered in Ireland