DVLA form V888 or a tracing service: your options
If you need the registered keeper's details after an incident, you can apply to the DVLA yourself. You may also instruct a tracing service. Both routes require a lawful purpose, and neither is available simply because you want to know who owns a car.
The DVLA route
The DVLA holds the vehicle record and may release the name and address of a registered keeper where a requester can show "reasonable cause". Its published guidance gives examples, including finding out who was responsible for an accident, tracing the keeper of an abandoned vehicle and tracing the keeper of a vehicle parked on private land.
The form depends on who you are. An individual uses form V888. A company that does not issue parking or trespass charge notices and needs the keeper on a specific date may use form V888/2A, and one that needs other information from the record, such as insurer details, may use V888/2B. Companies issuing parking or trespass charge notices use form V888/3, and the DVLA says that private parking companies may request information only if they belong to the British Parking Association or the International Parking Community.
Applications are made by post, with the fee stated on the form. At the date of our research, the DVLA's guidance gave the fee as £2.50 for an individual's V888 and £5 for a V888/2B. The DVLA asks for evidence of the reasonable cause. For an accident, that can include the police reference, the insurance policy number, photographs of the damage and a repair quote. The DVLA decides each application.
Instructing a tracing service
We screen your request for a lawful purpose, ask for the evidence needed and, if the request is accepted, carry out the trace and release the result to you. Fees range from £50 to £200 inclusive of VAT.
Comparing the two
| DVLA (form V888) | Car Owners Check | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Individuals and companies with reasonable cause | Requesters with a lawful purpose that passes screening |
| How to apply | By post, using the relevant form | Online request form |
| Fee | £2.50 for form V888, £5 for form V888/2B, as stated by the DVLA | £50 to £200 inclusive of VAT, confirmed in writing before work starts |
| Evidence | Required by the DVLA | Required by us |
| Outcome | The DVLA decides whether to release information | We decide whether to accept the request. A result is not guaranteed |
Both routes are lawful when used for a proper purpose. The DVLA route costs less. You may prefer to instruct us if you want the evidence reviewed by a person, a reply within 24 hours or help with a request that does not fit the DVLA's forms.
KADOE
The DVLA also operates a "keeper at date of event" electronic service for approved organisations that make frequent requests. It is governed by a contract that requires reasonable cause for each request and limits how the data may be used.
A note on responsible use
Information about a keeper is released for the purpose stated in the application and for no other. If you obtain it from the DVLA or from us, you must use it only for that purpose. Using it to find, follow or harass a person is unlawful and may be reported to the police.
Have a lawful reason to identify a registered keeper?
Tell us what has happened and why you need the information. We will reply within 24 hours.
Request a trace