Its getting better under the tories. Yes really.

[RichardCranium]

You could also take down their plate details, replace yours with them and potentially have a limited degree of freedom from parking tickets, speed cameras, etc.

... bank robberies, planting bombs, commit a crime knowingly using a particular victim's registration, put YOUR plates on someone else's car when they are going on a pre-arranged visit to somewhere where there are security cameras and use that as your alibi to commit a crime somewhere else, ...

[hyperD]

Tracking down your runaway wife so you can give her another beating.

Tracking down high value cars so you can steal them to order.

Looking for other Emerald Green, 2004, 4 litre, Hokey-Cokey GTIs so you can pinch parts of them for your car.

Tracking down the bastard driving T415GHR so you can smash his windows for pulling out in front of you.


If I can think of those off the top of my head...

You could also take down their plate details, replace yours with them and potentially have a limited degree of freedom from parking tickets, speed cameras etc

[Spacecadet]

Oh, I thought they could already. Not sure were I got the idea from. Can't say I'd have a problem with it, it's not really personal data like bank balances or health/criminal records. Actually can't see why the general public can't access some of it, checking mileage on previous MOTs would help when buying a car to ensure it's not been fiddled. Hardly more sensitive than Co Hse showing what directorships you have.

I always swap my odometer with the spare one before the car goes for its MOT

[RichardCranium]

So, they are going to give insurance companies access to DVLA records?

It's getting better under the tories. Yes really.

Well, it was under the last lot that the DVLA were selling people's personal details to illegal clampers so they could go round people's houses and beat them up. That pissed off the Data Protection Registrar big time.

It is the "How can we sell our assets?" mentality of the DVLA that is the problem, not the clique of lying thieving politicians in government at the time.

[Freamon]

This article, contrary to the other thread, seems to suggest you will be able to keep vehicles SORNed and uninsured:

Motorists warned of new insurance measures | Travel News

I guess previously you had to get caught driving uninsured to get fined. Now you will get fined just for having your vehicle uninsured (unless it is SORNed).

Having a SORNed vehicle on the road is already an offence that is enforced against (whether being driven or just parked on the public highway).

[AtW]

It seems obvious that insurance companies should be able to make such checks anyway - it seems totally relevant to what they do, in fact anything that makes insurance companies actually check detailed entered BEFORE insurance is granted is good.

It's a legal requiement to have driving license/insurance anyway.

[Wodewick]

Tracking down your runaway wife so you can give her another beating.

Tracking down high value cars so you can steal them to order.

Looking for other Emerald Green, 2004, 4 litre, Hokey-Cokey GTIs so you can pinch parts of them for your car.

Tracking down the bastard driving T415GHR so you can smash his windows for pulling out in front of you.


If I can think of those off the top of my head...

OOOOOPS! Sorry

[RichardCranium]

Oh, I thought they could already. Not sure were I got the idea from. Can't say I'd have a problem with it, it's not really personal data like bank balances or health/criminal records.

Tracking down your runaway wife so you can give her another beating.

Tracking down high value cars so you can steal them to order.

Looking for other Emerald Green, 2004, 4 litre, Hokey-Cokey GTIs so you can pinch parts of them for your car.

Tracking down the bastard driving T415GHR so you can smash his windows for pulling out in front of you.


If I can think of those off the top of my head...

[OwlHoot]

Actually can't see why the general public can't access some of it ...

As long as "it" didn't include any contact details, such as home addresses or contact phone numbers. Otherwise burglars could deduce whose property was likely to be empty simply based on number plates of passing cars.

[xoggoth]

Oh, I thought they could already. Not sure were I got the idea from. Can't say I'd have a problem with it, it's not really personal data like bank balances or health/criminal records. Actually can't see why the general public can't access some of it, checking mileage on previous MOTs would help when buying a car to ensure it's not been fiddled. Hardly more sensitive than Co Hse showing what directorships you have.

[Freamon]

Given the abysmal state of the DVLA's database, there should be plenty of work for contractors to get any sense out of it for insurance companies over the next several years.

[BolshieBastard]

So, they are going to give insurance companies access to DVLA records? Well, not in the way you'd expect because the Information \ Data Protection Act means the ins co would have to ask everyone who's on DVLA records for permission.

Lots of people wont want to do that so, to get around it, how about letting insurance co's make it a condition of insuring you that you agree to their access to your DVLA record?

Oh turn them (the ins co's) down I hear you shout. Yep, until you've gone through every ins co who have the same condition, no access to DVLA records, no insurance.

Yep, things certainly are getting better.

Insurers could get access to DVLA database - Telegraph

Because of data protection laws, a driver’s consent would be required before the DVLA opens its records to insurance companies.

One option being considered by ministers would be to allow companies to include a request for access to the DVLA database on the insurance proposal form.

They would be free to decline insurance to a driver who was not prepared to allow insurers to obtain information on any previous motoring convictions.

In a separate move learner drivers could be allowed on motorways, Mr Penning told the Committee.