What the V888 Form Is For
The V888 is a postal application form that lets you request information from DVLA’s vehicle record. Pick the wrong one and your application comes straight back.
Option A is for people who want to know who the current or previous registered keeper of a vehicle was. Option B is for people who need personal details about a third party connected to a specific incident, a road accident, an abandoned vehicle on their land, a court judgment, or similar. Which sections you fill in, what you send with it, and what you pay all turn on that choice.
DVLA releases vehicle keeper information only when you can demonstrate a legitimate reason. Ticking a box is not enough on its own. The declaration you sign commits you legally to using the information only for the purpose you stated.
Post only. There is no online version of the V888. The form cannot be submitted by email, through GOV.UK, or at a Post Office. Download it, complete it in black ink using capital letters, and post it to the address on the form.
Option A or Option B: Which One Applies
The form asks you to mark your choice at the top with an X. Get this right before you write anything else.
| You need | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| What it gives you | Current or previous registered keeper’s details | Third party details linked to a specific incident |
| Sections to complete | Sections 1, 2 and 3 | Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
| Fee | £5.00 per vehicle | £2.50 or £5.00 depending on reason |
| Proof of address required | No | Yes. Bank statement or utility bill within last 3 months. |
| Additional documents | None | Depends on your reason (see below) |
If you just want to know who owns a vehicle, for instance, to write to the keeper about a minor accident, that is Option A. If you need the personal details of a specific individual and your request relates to an incident on your property, a road accident, a legal matter, or similar, that is Option B.
Option B: Fees by Reason
Section 2 of Option B lists six reasons. Each carries a different fee and different supporting documents. Tick the one that fits your situation and ignore the rest.
| Reason | Fee | What you must include |
|---|---|---|
| Information following an incident (road accident) | £2.50 | Registration number of all vehicles involved, photograph of damage, copy of repair invoice or estimate, full details of the incident. Crime reference number and police station if applicable. |
| Vehicle abandoned on your property | £2.50 | Photograph of the vehicle showing its registration plate, your connection to the property, location and date last seen. If you are not the landowner, a signed letter from the landowner authorising you to act on their behalf. |
| Vehicle trespassing or persistently parking on your property | £2.50 | Photograph of the vehicle showing its registration plate, your connection to the property, location and date last seen. Landowner letter if you are not the owner. |
| Executor of a will | £5.00 | Name and date of death of the deceased, copy of the death certificate, confirmation that you have been appointed as executor or granted probate. |
| Court judgment | £5.00 | Copy of the stamped document from the court. |
| Other | £5.00 | Complete Section 3. State clearly what information you need, why you need it, and how you intend to use it. |
Proof of address is mandatory for all Option B requests. A bank statement or a utility bill dated within the last three months. A driving licence or passport is not acceptable. If you do not include this, DVLA will return the application regardless of how complete the rest of it is.
How to Fill In the V888
Most of the form is self-explanatory. These are the parts where people make mistakes.
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1
Mark your option
Put a clear X in either the Option A box or the Option B box at the top of the first page. Do not tick both. If the box is blank or unclear, DVLA will return the form.
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2
Section 1, Your details
Complete this section regardless of which option you chose. First name, surname, house number, full address, postcode, phone number and email address. If your name or address has changed recently, fill in the previous details section underneath. Write in black ink using capital letters throughout.
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3
Section 2, Vehicle details
Enter the registration number of the vehicle you are enquiring about and the make and model. For Option A, this section also asks you to state specifically what information you require, why you need it, and how you are going to use it. Be specific. “I was in a collision with this vehicle” is more useful than “I need keeper details.”
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4
Section 3: Declaration (Option A) or Vehicle Details (Option B)
For Option A, Section 3 is the declaration. Read it before you sign. You are confirming that the information is correct, that you will only use what DVLA provides for the stated purpose, and that you understand passing this information to third parties without DVLA permission is a criminal offence. Include your title, full name, signature and today’s date.
For Option B, Section 3 is the vehicle details section, registration number, make and model, and your stated reason for the request.
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5
Section 4: Declaration (Option B only)
Option B applicants complete the declaration in Section 4. Same requirements as Option A: title, full name, signature and date. This must be signed in pen. Unsigned applications are returned without being processed.
What to Send With Your Application
Option A, what to include
- Completed V888 form, Sections 1 to 3
- Cheque or postal order for £5.00 made payable to DVLA Swansea
Option B, what to include
- Completed V888 form, Sections 1 to 4
- Cheque or postal order for the correct fee (£2.50 or £5.00 depending on your reason)
- Proof of address, bank statement or utility bill dated within the last three months
- Supporting documents specific to your reason (photographs, court documents, death certificate, etc., see the fee table above)
DVLA cannot accept damaged or altered cheques. If a cheque arrives in that condition, the entire application is rejected and returned. Write a fresh cheque if there is any doubt about the condition of the original.
Where to Send the V888
Send everything to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AJ
The SA99 1AJ suffix is specific to vehicle record enquiries. Other DVLA departments use different SA99 suffixes. Using the wrong one delays your application because mail has to be redirected internally. The address is printed on the form itself, copy it exactly.
Make cheques payable to DVLA Swansea. Do not make them out to DVLA alone or to any other variation of the name.
Processing Times and What Happens Next
A complete application takes around 10 working days to process from the day DVLA receives it. That clock only starts running on a complete submission. Missing documents, incorrect fees, or an unsigned declaration all stop the process. Your application gets returned by post, which adds the return postage time on top.
DVLA does not acknowledge receipt. If you need proof it arrived, send by Royal Mail Recorded Delivery.
When DVLA approves the application, they send the information to the address on the form. Option A applications receive the registered keeper’s name and address. Option B responses vary depending on what DVLA holds and what your request relates to.
DVLA can decline a request if they consider the stated reason insufficient. If that happens, the fee is not automatically refunded. Check the MIS546 booklet (available at the GOV.UK link in the Sources section) for the appeals process.
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Returned
Choosing Option B when Option A applies
If you want to write to the keeper of a vehicle after a minor accident, Option A is what you need. Option B is for situations where you need the personal details of a specific third party for legal or property-related reasons. Most road accident enquiries where you simply want keeper details are Option A. Picking Option B means providing documents you may not have, paying the wrong fee, and almost certainly getting the form back.
Leaving the reason box vague
Section 2 of Option A asks you to state specifically what information you require and why. “I need this for insurance purposes” is not specific enough. Write the date and location of the incident, what happened, and exactly what you are trying to establish. DVLA uses this information to decide whether your request qualifies. Vague applications are rejected.
Sending the wrong fee
Option A is always £5.00. Option B is £2.50 for incident, property and trespass-related requests, and £5.00 for executor, court judgment and other requests. Sending £5.00 for an Option B accident enquiry, or £2.50 for an executor application, will get your form returned. The exact amounts are stated on the form next to each reason.
No proof of address for Option B
A driving licence photograph is not an acceptable proof of address for Option B. It has to be a bank statement or a utility bill dated within the last three months. The form is explicit about this. If your utility bills are paperless, download and print a recent statement from your provider’s online portal.
Forgetting to sign the declaration
The declaration is not optional. It is the part that makes the application legally binding. An unsigned form will be returned without exception. Check the signature and date fields before you seal the envelope.
Writing in pencil or non-black ink
The form states black ink, capital letters. DVLA scans applications. Pencil marks can fade or smear during scanning, and blue or green ink sometimes does not scan clearly. Use a black ballpoint pen throughout.
Sending to the wrong SA99 address
SA99 1AJ is for vehicle record enquiries. SA99 1DD is for logbook applications. SA99 1DS is for personalised registrations. SA99 1AB is for vehicle tax. Copy the address from the form, not from memory or a search result, because different forms use different suffixes. Internal redirection at DVLA is not guaranteed to be quick.
Questions People Actually Ask
Post Offices do not stock it. Download the V888 form free from GOV.UK, print on A4, complete by hand, and post to DVLA. No account or registration needed.
DVLA does not accept this form by email or online. Print it, complete it in black ink, and post it to Vehicle Record Enquiries, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AJ. That is the only route for both Option A and Option B.
Around 10 working days from receipt for a complete application. Anything missing, wrong fee, unsigned declaration, no proof of address for Option B, gets the form returned and the clock restarts. DVLA sends no status updates, so send by Recorded Delivery if you want proof of receipt.
Option A returns the registered keeper’s name and address, which is the person on the vehicle record, not necessarily the driver or owner. Option B varies by request. If DVLA considers the reason insufficient, they decline and write to explain. The fee is not always returned in that case.
A bank statement or utility bill dated within the last three months. Driving licences and passports do not count. If your bills are paperless, download and print a recent statement from your provider’s portal. It must show your name and current address.
DVLA refuses requests where the stated reason does not meet the threshold for releasing personal data under the VKRP regulations. The fee is not automatically refunded. The MIS546 booklet on GOV.UK explains the criteria and how to challenge a refusal.
No solicitor needed. Individuals submit a V888 directly using the same process as any professional. Complete the relevant sections, include the correct fee and documents, sign the declaration, and post it. Read the declaration before signing, as it carries legal weight.
Related Forms and Next Steps
What DVLA sends you is a name and address. What you do with it, whether that is writing a letter, contacting your insurer, or starting a small claims claim, is the next step. That part is on you.
Lost or damaged logbook? That is a V62, not this form. The V62 is the application for a replacement V5C registration certificate.
For SORN declarations by post, the V890 is what you need.