Amidst accusations that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has used data derived from more than 18 million entries on drivers, to garner profit from the private sector, the government organization insists that it sold the names and addresses of the drivers only to genuine clients such as private parking companies or clamping firms in order to cut down on unauthorized parking on private grounds, easier collection of fines and also to persons with real grievances against certain drivers. It also insists that the £2.50 fee it charges only covers the processing costs.

This practice gained notoriety when it was revealed that the DVLA databank had been used by Castrol in its advertisement last year, which was taken off air following strong protests and denial of responsibility by the government agency.

Car owners and other motorists are worried over the sensitive data falling into wrong hands along with being pursued by 'parasite' parking firms for exorbitant fees, often in excess of £500 pounds.

According to statistics this lucrative trade which began more than five years ago has yielded £43.9 million in revenue so far to the DVLA.