Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Policy & External Communications Directorate
Zone 1/D16
DVLA
Longview Road
Swansea
SA6 7JL
Telephone
Fax
Armen Landragin
Textphone
Request-26745-3956a947
Email
Website
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring
Your Ref
Our Ref
Date:
18 January 2010
Dear Armen Landragin
Thank you for your e-mail of 12 January about Vehicle Registration and Vehicle Licensing.
As your request for information falls within the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s
(DVLA) day to day business, your request is subsequently being treated as ‘Business as
Usual’.
The Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 requires vehicles to be taxed (licensed) unless
they are properly declared as being used or kept off-road (‘a Statutory Off Road
Notification’). The tax disc must be properly displayed on the vehicle and the vehicle must be
properly registered with the DVLA. Also, small vehicles over three years old must have a
valid MoT certificate and the driver must have valid motor insurance.
The register maintained by the Agency is based on vehicles and the registered keepers who
are responsible for the use and licensing of vehicles on the roads. It is not a register of legal
title to vehicles.
The register held at DVLA is essentially maintained to assist in revenue collection, road
safety and law enforcement generally. It is clearly essential for all these purposes that the
register shows the people in possession of vehicles and responsible for its day to day use on
the road. For this reason the law requires keepers to notify the Agency as they acquire and
dispose of vehicles and Vehicle Registration Certificates (V5C) are issued to them to help
maintain this process and not to claim any legal ownership of the vehicles.
Vehicle Registration Documents (V5C’s) are not documents of legal title or proof of
ownership. There is a prominent note on the certificate to makes it clear that the registered
keeper is not necessarily a vehicles legal owner and the fact a certificate is issued does not
affect the legal ownership of a vehicle.
The function of the DVLA is to maintain an accurate record of drivers and vehicles. It is
responsible for the collection and enforcement of vehicle excise duty (VED) and tackling
Page 1 of 2
vehicle crime. DVLA is not responsible for providing definitive advice and are not in a
position to comment further on this matter. Only the courts can give a definitive
interpretation of the law. Should you question the legality and definitions of the Vehicle
Excise and Registration Act 1994 (as amended). You may wish to seek independent legal
advice so that you properly understand the fit between your view of your obligations and the
application of statute law requirements to you.
I must advise that the onus remains with the registered keeper to ensure that their vehicle is
correctly registered and taxed at all times, or that a SORN is in force. Failure to comply will
result in the keeper committing an offence. The offences are punishable by varying penalties
which can be a fine up to £5,000 and imprisonment.
Yours sincerely
Policy & External Communications Directorate
Page 2 of 2
