Information about vehicle is personal data

In a decision ( [2014] UKICO FS505209970) by the Information Commissioner, a complainant requested information about a vehicle for which she is the registered keeper. The information requested related to what information had been given to Liverpool City Council about the vehicle, and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency refused to provide the information under sections 21 and 40 of the FOIA on the grounds that it was available by other means (a data subject request under the Data Protection Act). The Information Commissioner found that the requested information is the personal data of the complainant and therefore is indeed exempt from a FOIA request under section 40(1).