The DVLA is handing over the car registration details of millions of owners to private parking firms signed up to a trade body for just a few hundred pounds.
The number of private firms legally entitled to receive the sensitive information has risen five-fold in just six years as a result of a law change put in place to crack down on rogue operators.
According to the RAC Foundation, the motoring think tank, 119 car parking management businesses are now able to access vehicle keeper records held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
The companies pay the DVLA just £2.50 for each record check but the data enables the firms to then pursue motorists for parking fines routinely set at £100….