The paper counterpart of the driving licence has now been abolished in Britain. Replacing it is an online system that lets you view licence information online and share it to third parties via a code.
While the photo card driving licence remains important, its paper counterpart is obsolete starting from today. Everything covered by the paper driving licence is now taken care of by the DVLA online service, which can be accessed by logging on to www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.
As well as being able to view information on the new service, drivers can generate a check code to share with an employer or a car hire company. Drivers get a check code by logging on to the DVLA website, but upon issue the code will only be valid for 72 hours.
When a driver gives a code to an employer or hire company they’ll be able to see the driver’s name and what vehicles they can drive. It also allows them to check if the driver has any penalty points or disqualifications and the last eight characters of their driving licence number.
This change has been introduced by the Government to reduce the amount of red tape surrounding the driver licence. It also removes the need to replace paper driving licences, with an estimated 445,000 getting lost by their owners last year.
The new online and code service has already caused various motoring groups to express concern over the switch, with most worried over renting cars abroad. It has been estimated by an AA/Populus survey that more than a third of drivers who hired a car abroad in the previous five years were asked to show the paper counterpart.
Motoring groups are concerned that when trying to rent a car abroad, either the driver or the vehicle rental service will be unaware that the paper driving licence has now been scrapped and that a check code is needed.
Another concern is that drivers will be unable to give a check code to a hire car company when they are in a foreign town which has limited or zero access to the internet. Some motoring groups have advised that rather than disposing of their paper counterpart licence, they should keep it as extra security when trying to rent a car abroad.
The DVLA however believes car rental companies will be aware of the changes, and have advised drivers to check with them in advance about what documents and information is required. If the internet can’t be accessed where you’re trying to rent a car, then the DVLA say they will make a phone number available.
