Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Policy Casework and Advice
Policy and External Communications Directorate
D16
Longview Road
Morriston
Swansea
SA6 7JL
Telephone
01792 786727
Fax
01792 384565
Minicom
Ms Veronica Chapman
Email
[email address]
Website
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring
Your Ref
7553-fc09e5db
Our Ref
Date:
24 March 2009
Dear Ms Chapman,
Thank you for your further letter of 13 March to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
(DVLA) regarding the laws and regulations concerning the clamping and impounding of
untaxed vehicles. Your enquiry has not been dealt with as a Freedom of Information request
but as a routine day to day business request.
I must explain that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does have the legal
power to wheel clamp, remove and dispose of untaxed vehicles. This power is granted by
legislation set out in the Vehicle Excise Duty (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of
Vehicles) Regulations 1997, as amended.
The compliance of the regulations with property rights and international law would have been
considered at length when they were drafted, and considered further in discussions by the UK
Parliament prior to their introduction.
I can confirm that the Agency does not immobilise, remove or destroy vehicles for reasons
other than Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) evasion related offences.
Turning to your point about ownership of a vehicle, the register maintained by the Agency is
based on vehicles and the registered keepers who are responsible for their licensing and use
on the roads. It is not a register of legal title to vehicles and the register is 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 keepers in possession of, and responsible for,
vehicles as accurately and quickly as possible.
The points you raise have been noted by the Agency.
Yours sincerely
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Sent unsigned via e-mail
Tina Higgins
Policy Casework and Advice
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