GCDA (Government Car and Despatch Agency)

The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) comprises of Government Cars and Government Mail - the Government’s own services for moving people and documents safely and reliably throughout the UK. The GCDA exists to help Government departments and the wider public sector achieve efficiency and savings by providing these services direct. The GCDA's origins date back to the Second World War when the service was predominately female drivers; as portrayed in the popular TV drama Foyle's War. Car Service chauffeurs also started carrying documents between Government departments and this was the origin of the InterDespatch Service which later became Government Mail. The GCDA's status as part of Government offers the public sector some very significant advantages in that a tender process is not usually required to use GCDA's services; the agency is a not-for-profit organisation; all GCDA employees are security cleared civil servants, giving peace of mind and nationwide coverage is offered. The GCDA is an executive agency of the Department for Transport.