Industry News from Yes Insurance

Drivers have shelled out £9 million using the DVLA's premium rate phone line, it has been reported.

According to This Is Money, the company makes this amount charging 8p a minute for the premium-rate service.

This may be an unwelcome charge for people already paying for car insurance and road tax.

Over the last three months, it added that the organisation has accumulated £3 million from the 0870 number.

Furthermore, figures from the last five years show that the sum has risen 500 per cent from the £656,161 in 2002 to 2003 to £2.89 million in 2006 to 2007.

"This is an astonishing rip-off. It amounts to another stealth tax by the government. It has to stop," said Conservative transport spokesman Owen Paterson.

Meanwhile, the Times has reported that the government has criticised police officers for relying too heavily on the use of speed cameras to pick up rogue motorists.

© Adfero Ltd