The ITSA is demanding an effective registration scheme for all motor traders and car auctions which would identify all the parties involved in any vehicle transaction and the hands through which a vehicle passes as it moves within the trade. Vice chairman Mike Wadsley said such measures would crack down on clocking and protect both dealers and the general public.

The ITSA proposals coincide with a major DVLA review of the existing rules governing transfer of ownership in which fleet industry associations, along with other motor industry bodies, have been involved. The DVLA has been studying proposals to introduce a mechanism for continuous licensing and plans to introduce joint notification of changes in ownership for more than a year.

It is believed that after consultations with the motor industry, the DVLA is hoping to place responsibility for informing it of a change in ownership more firmly with the vendor and to introduce harsher penalties for failure to comply within a given timescale. Any move in this direction would require fleets disposing of vehicles to ensure all the relevant documentation is in order or face penalties which could run into hundreds of pounds per vehicle.