Annex 1: Retention periods
Updated 20 December 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dvla-privacy-policy/annex-1-retention-periods
This annex describes the retention periods for your data (how long your data is kept for).
When you open a Driver and vehicles account
Customer information would be retained for the lifetime of the account. You can delete the account at any time.
When you apply for a driving licence
The core system of record for GB driver licensing data includes name, address, date of birth, driver number, issue number, licence details, driving entitlements and any valid endorsements.
Data is held for 120 years from date of birth. However, 3 months following a notification of death, the information held is reduced to the bare minimum.
Endorsements are also subject to pruning after 4 or 11 years depending on the offence type.
The retention of paper based historic driver records is reviewed every 5 years.
When you apply for a tachograph card
A database of all GB drivers issued with a tachograph card is maintained containing name, address, date of birth, contact details, driving licence number, tachograph number, photograph and signature.
The data is retained for 5 years in line with the validity period of tachograph cards.
When you apply to register a vehicle in your name
The core system of record for UK registered vehicles includes the vehicle registration number, vehicle identification number, technical vehicle details, licensing status, and name and contact details of the registered vehicle keeper and previous keepers.
This data is retained for the lifetime of the vehicle and is made null and void when a notification is received that the vehicle is scrapped or destroyed.
The retention of paper based historic vehicle records is reviewed every 5 years.
When you apply for a trade licence plate
A database of all trade licence holders containing company name, address, name of licence holder and trade plate number is held. The retention of these records is reviewed every 5 years.
A separate record of trade licences issued is held for 7 years.
When you pay the HGV levy
The Department for Transport as data controller and NEC Software Solutions (data processor) will use your personal information for the purposes of administration of the HGV Road User Levy and its enforcement (HGV Road User Levy Act 2013).
Your personal information will be properly safeguarded and processed in accordance with the requirements of data protection law. Levy purchase data is held for 6 months, and inactive account data is held for 2 years before being anonymised.
When you apply to register a trailer
A register of some trailers weighing more than 750kg and all trailers weighing more than 3500kg is maintained comprising the vehicle identification number and the trailer registration number.
Trailer records are deleted after 20 years of inactivity. The trailer registration number is retained so that it cannot be reused.
When you buy a private (personalised) registration number
A database of all personalised registrations purchased from DVLA consists of purchaser name, address, contact details, the value of the purchase and nominee details. This is held for the lifetime of the vehicle mark.
A database of customers who express an interest in purchasing a particular registration number containing name, contact details and the registration number they are interested in is held until the registration number is sold or the customer unsubscribes from the service.
When you register to become a number plate supplier
A register of number plate suppliers containing the name and contact details of those registered to supply number plates. The data contained in this register is reviewed every 10 years.
When you contact us about Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges
DVLA’s contact centre handles CAZ queries and payments on behalf of the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU). All information related to general enquiries is retained for a period of 90 days, after which only name and email address are retained. Complaints are retained for 7 years.
When you subscribe to receive DVLA email alerts
DVLA maintains a database of customers who have asked to receive email alerts containing their email address. Customers can unsubscribe when they no longer wish to receive these alerts.
When you have a query or complaint
Ministerial and official complaints, plus Freedom of Information requests, are held for 5 years.
Correspondence stored in casework systems is held for either 5 years, 10 years following case closure or the lifetime of the driver record depending on the nature of the complaint or query.
Call recordings, webchats and email enquiries or complaints are held for 3 months.
Complaints referred to the Independent Complaints Assessor are held for 3 months.
When you are a key stakeholder or supplier who has contracts and services with us
Details relating to unsuccessful tenders are held for one year.
Details relating to successful tenders are held for 6 years.
Contracts and Memoranda of Understanding are held for 6 years following the expiry of the contract or agreement.
Research and statistical purposes
We also process your data for research and statistical purposes.
Customer and employee survey data is held for between 3 and 12 months, depending on the nature of the survey.
Audio and video recordings of customer testing sessions are held for a maximum of 10 years, subject to the consent of the customer.