DVLA Earns Millions From Phone Lines

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has earned an extraordinary £1.3 million by charging callers to its general enquiry line.

The agency has a 0870 number, charging eight pence a minute, for which it receives a cut.

The DVLA defended its extremely lucrative policy by claiming that a local number would give Welsh callers an unfair price advantage, and that the alternative four pence a minute 0845 number would prove prohibitively expensive to run.

Motor insurance groups have condemned the charges and demanded that the government finds a better way to fund the DVLA.

"The powers-that-be want the official register to be kept up to date, so they shouldn't put obstacles in the way," said a motor insurance spokesperson.

"The DVLA should be given a little more money to play with so that motorists are not charged for complying with their legal duties."

The telecoms regulator Ofcom has now waded into the debate, and is threatening to lower the cost of calls to the 0870 number.

The DVLA admits it would be left out of pocket without the telephone revenue.

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