THE Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) made £6.3 million last year by selling access to the names and addresses of motorists on its database, it has been revealed.

Wheel clampers, bailiffs and debt collection agencies are among the private sector companies to benefit from the information. The figure represents an increase of 27% on the previous year’s figure of £5 million.

The DVLA has strict guidelines on who is allowed to see details from the database. A spokesman said: ‘Regulations permit the release of information to the police, to local authorities for purposes associated with the investigation of an offence or parking enforcement and to other applicants who can demonstrate reasonable cause.’