DVLA Data Breach Claims
The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) hold over 50 million driver records and 40 million vehicle records in the UK. If the DVLA fails to follow data protection laws when handling this information, anyone who is affected may be in a position to make a claim for compensation.
The way the DVLA handles personal data is governed by UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act. If for any reason the DVLA fail to follow these guidelines, resulting in personal data being compromised, they could be held liable for any damages.
DVLA data breaches could occur for a variety of reasons. The consequences are always likely to be serious, regardless of whether the data breach was caused by a sophisticated cyber-attack or was the result of a simple human error by an employee.
At Hayes Connor, our data breach solicitors understand just how difficult it can be to find out that your information has been exposed in a DVLA data protection breach. You may understandably be concerned about what will happen in the present and future, particularly where the information that has been exposed is sensitive.
If the DVLA have contacted you to inform you that your data has been compromised, you may be in a position to pursue compensation. This is something our DVLA data breach claims solicitors will be able to advise you on further.
As we specialist in data breaches, we have established a wealth of combined experience and expertise which we use to support all of our clients. Depending on the individual circumstances of your case, we will be able to help you in making a claim that covers any direct financial losses you have experienced, as well as emotional distress and/or a loss of privacy.
We know that making a DVLA data breach claim can be an overwhelming prospect for many people, especially during such a distressing time. Throughout the claims process, our data breach specialists will take the time to provide close personal support that is tailored to your circumstances.
Believe that you may be entitled to DVLA data breach compensation? Use our simple and secure online claim form to share the details of your situation and we will get back to you shortly to let you know whether we can help.
To speak to a member of our team now about what to do if your data has been exposed, please call us on 0330 041 5134.
Making a DVLA data breach claim
Who is eligible to make a DVLA data breach claim?
The risk of becoming the victim of a data breach is, unfortunately, ever-present. Cybercriminals have a range of sophisticated tactics at their disposal and, even with comprehensive training, employees can make simple mistakes that have huge consequences.
As the victim of a DVLA data breach, you may be eligible to claim compensation if it can be shown that mistakes were made which directly led to your data being compromised. For instance, if a cyber-attack breached the DVLA’s security measures, or an email was sent to a group of the wrong recipients, this could be sufficient grounds to make a claim.
You can also make a claim, even where you did not experience any direct losses as a result of the DVLA data breach. That said, where direct losses did take place, or any anxiety or anguish was caused by the breach, a more significant case can often be made.
How to start a DVLA data breach claim
When you first get in touch with our data breach solicitors about your case, we will comb through the details of your situation to establish whether you will have grounds to make a DVLA data breach claim.
There may be a situation where you are not sure if you have been caught up in a data breach or not. If so, this is something our data breach solicitors can investigate further on your behalf.
As a part of the process, we will get in touch with the DVLA to get a clearer understanding of how the breach happened and what it involved. If we can confirm that they were responsible for losing your data, we will then proceed to help you access the DVLA data breach compensation you deserve.
To begin the DVLA claims process, you simply need to fill out our secure online claim form to share the details of your situation. Once submitted, our team will get back to you shortly to let you know whether we will be able to help.
To speak to a member of our team about making a DVLA data breach claim, you can also call us on 0330 041 5139.
What compensation can you receive for a DVLA data breach claim?
If the DVLA are responsible for a data breach, and your information has been exposed, you could be in line to claim compensation. This is the case whether or not you have experienced any direct losses.
It is worth noting that the presence of direct financial losses, medical harm, or anxiety could make a case more significant.
Financial losses
In some cases, the information exposed in a DVLA data breach could lead to financial losses and/or identity theft. If this happens in your case, the effects can, of course, be devastating.
Distress
Data breaches are incredibly distressing. The prospect of your data falling into the wrong hands is not something anyone would wish to deal with, which means you can still make a claim even if you have not directly lost out.
The physical and psychological effects of a DVLA data protection breach will also be taken into consideration when compensation is calculated. Common side effects often include a lack of sleep, general anxiety, feeling ill, unsettled or confused.
The full impact of a DVLA data breach is not always immediate
The sensitive nature of data breaches, and the way organisations respond to them, means that it is often months until the full impact is made apparent.
In cases where data has been accessed by cybercriminals, it can often take longer for the matter to be fully disclosed to any victims.
Our team have seen many cases where the impact of a data breach has led to individuals having to move house or area, losing their job, or dealing with relationship breakdown. This can all happen a long time after the data breach originally takes place.
Common questions about DVLA data breaches
What personal data does the DVLA hold about you?
The DVLA holds two separate registers of information. One is for drivers and the other for vehicles.
The driver register contains personal information such as names, addresses, dates of birth and photographs, in addition to driver information including penalty points, disqualifications, convictions and medical information.
The vehicle register contains registration numbers, vehicle identification numbers, make and models, and vehicle tax statuses.
Is a driving licence personal data?
Yes, a driving license would class as personal data. This is because personal data is defined as anything that can identify a living person either directly or indirectly.
Who can access your DVLA records?
The DVLA are able to share any data they store with the police and local authorities. They are also able to provide a ‘controlled’ release of personal data to third parties.
How has the DVLA historically leaked data?
The DVLA has been responsible for a number of data breaches in the past. For example, between 2019 and 2020, the DVLA reported around 200 data breaches to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Does GDPR apply to DVLA?
Yes. Like any other organisation in the UK, the DVLA is required to follow the rules and guidelines set out by UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act.
How do I know if I have been the victim of a DVLA data protection breach?
The DVLA are required to inform you, any anyone else who may have been affected by a data breach, as soon as possible. Despite this, there may several reasons for this information failing to reach you. Often, data breach victims only find out about their involvement after an ICO investigation is published.
If you think that your data has been compromised in a breach, and you have not been contacted by DVLA, the first step you should take is to contact them directly to find out more.
How long do I have to claim DVLA data breach compensation?
You will usually have six years to make a DVLA data breach claim. This is counted from the date you first discovered the breach or the date you should have been reasonably aware that it took place.
This will often be the date the DVLA first contacted you to explain what happened and how your data was exposed.
Start your DVLA data breach claim today
At Hayes Connor, we want to make sure that you are able to access the compensation you deserve following a DVLA data breach.
We have a wealth of combined experience and expertise among our team which we will use to support you with the process of making a data breach claim from start to finish.
There are strict time limits in place for making a DVLA data breach claim, as well as any other type of government data breach claim, which highlights the importance of acting quickly and efficiently.