Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Corporate Affairs Directorate
DVLA/D16
Longview Road
Morriston
Swansea
SA6 7JL
Telephone
Fax
Mr Young
Textphone
Email
Send via e-mail to:
Website
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Your Ref
Our Ref
Date:
21 March 2011
Dear Mr Young
Thank you for your e-mail dated 17 March requesting information on how to un-
register your vehicle. The Freedom of Information Act gives people a right to access
non-personal information held by public authorities. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing
Agency (DVLA) is the authority responsible for maintaining a register of drivers,
vehicles and their keepers. As your request for information falls within DVLA’s day to
day business, your request is subsequently being treated as ‘Business as Usual’.
The content of the ‘Notice’ you provided has been noted. However, I should point out
a number of points regarding the licensing of drivers and the registration and taxation
of vehicles.
The register maintained by DVLA is based on the vehicle details and records the
“registered keeper”. The registered keeper is the person responsible for the vehicle’s
use and licensing on the public roads but not who is the owner of the vehicle. DVLA
is not concerned with matters of ownership.
You have stated that you are the owner of your vehicle. However, this is not the case
for all our customers. Many registered keepers are in possession of vehicle(s) and
responsible for their day to day use on the road, but do not own the vehicle. A
company or fleet who has given the registered keeper use of the vehicle, as part of
their employment contract may own the vehicle.
Vehicle Registration Documents (V5C’s) are not documents of legal title or proof of
ownership. The revised V5C makes clear that the V5C is not proof of ownership.
There is a prominent note on the certificate, which 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.
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In addition, the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 requires vehicles to be
taxed 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. Therefore, it will not be
possible for you to de-register your vehicle from our records.
The Notice you supplied, if it has any effect, does not provide for any exception or
exemption from these requirements or any other requirements with regards the
licensing of drivers and the registration and taxing of vehicles. If you are stopped by
the Police and found to be in breach of the law regarding your driving licence and/or
vehicle then they will have no option but to report you for the offence. Similarly, if
DVLA receive any notification of such a breach then we will have no option but to
take the necessary actions to enforce the law.
Yours sincerely
Corporate Affairs Directorate
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