Any way to find current registration of a vehicle?

The message from Howard Rose contains these words:

Freedom of information act?

I suspect you would have to show "reasonable cause" to get the info out of the DVLA.

The message from Chris Bolus contains these words:

That is not the way the act works. Quite the reverse in fact. DVLA will have to come up with a convincing reason why the shouldn't release the information.

Roger ( snipped-for-privacy@nospam.zetnet.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

No. That applies to YOUR information. Information about your licence, the car you own now.

The information the OP's after hasn't been "their" information since they sold that car in the mid 80s.

The message from Adrian contains these words:

That's the Data Protection Act you're thinking of.

You don't need to have any connection with the information you request under the Freedom of Information Act. I suggest you look at the information the DVLA themselves supply about the FOI Act and follow up the links as appropriate.

To quote from the DVLA website:

-------------------------------------------------------- Reasons for release of vehicle register information

Regulations provide for the release of information to the police, to local authorities to enforce parking restrictions and to anyone who can demonstrate 'reasonable cause'. DVLA is also registered under the Data Protection Act to release information to other government departments for scientific, technical, health, social and economic research or statistical analysis. Other bodies have powers that require DVLA to release data.

This means that information will sometimes be lawfully made available for a variety of purposes, including:

The Department for Transport to facilitate traffic surveys. To anyone who can demonstrate reasonable cause, including insurance companies, finance houses and the public. To local government bodies seeking to enforce road user charging initiatives. To other local and central government bodies that use vehicle data to investigate benefit fraud. To courts and bailiffs to enforce court orders.

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The above implies that it won't be released to just anyone, and I'd be most unhappy if they did - it would mean anyone could get the details of a car's ownership at will - and identity theft is already a big enough problem. It would make it too easy for example to apply for a V5C for any vehicle, then pose as the registered keeper in order to effect a sale or transfer. That wouldn't be secure.

Thanks for the replies. I'll try the DVLA again - I always find that who you ask depends on what they will tell you!

I always find it rather amusing - the DVLA are so secretive about their information, yet I can go to my local registry office and freely access all the car records from the very beginning until sometime between 1974/1983.

The message from Chris Bolus contains these words:

snip

WTF has that to do with the FOI Act?

Knowledge of what registration mark is currently applied to a particular vehicle is not going to point at the owner. The DVLA information referred to above specifically states that sensitive information would require the agreement of the owner before it could be released.

It's possible that if the car has been serviced by MB dealer and if you can provide the VIN number a co-operative MB dealer could provide you with current reg number from service records

Phil

Unfortunately I do not know the chassis number of the car.

One thing I have found out, is that UFX30X's replacement - B40TJT - is still taxed! That was another W123 230E, in metallic blue. Lovely car, so I'm keeping my eyes open for it!!