A few months back we wrote about how the DVLA will abolish the paper counterpart as a result of the government’s Red Tape Challenge consultation on road transportation. The DVLA also suggests that their decision to abolish this is also to align with their strategic plan to simplify their services and digitalising. 

Paper licences will no longer be valid from the 8th June 2015, meaning driving convictions and penalty points will no longer be displayed on your licence. 

Many drivers travelling abroad and planning to hire a car are warned that they may find that they’re unable to pick up a hire car due to the new changes from DVLA. 

Drivers are urged to research and prepare before booking a hire car, as from the 8th June motorists will need to provide the hire company driving licence information, such as any penalty points e.g. for speeding, what they won’t be able to do is pass them their paper counterpart.  

Experts are worried that the new system in place could lead to people being turned away by foreign car hire firms, who may still insist on examining the paper document to check for endorsements or bans.

Motorists may simply be unaware that these changes are in place, which is why we have put together a few simple steps to signpost exactly how motorists need to react and what they have to obtain their driving licence information.  

How do you advise rental companies of driving convictions or penalty points?  

In order to hire a car and advise the hire company of any driving convictions or penalty points, drivers will need to login to the online DVLA ‘share your licence service’.

There are two steps for sharing your licence with a hire car company, one for the driver and one for the hire car company. 

Step 1:  Driver

You as the driver will need to login to the ‘view driving licence service’ on GOV.uk and click share your licence. This service is currently under development but will be available before the counterpart is abolished. Alternatively you can call the DVLA on 0300 790 6801 again this service will be available from 8th June 2015. 

Please note, to share your licence you will need your national insurance number and driving licence number.

The online service will generate a onetime unique access code which you’ll need to share with the hire Car Company along with the last eight digits of your driving licence number.  The unique access code will be valid for 72 hours, so be mindful of journey times and time differences. 

Drivers will also have the option to download a summary of your driving licence information, which will be worth taking as a precaution however, drivers do still need a code as well.  

Step 2: Hire Company

-Once you have given them the access code, it can be used to view appropriate information from your dvla driving record. 

 -Drivers with the old style paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 can also use the share driving licence service.

DVLA - Share your licence explained

Motorists should keep an eye on Gov.uk for further information and updates from the DVLA. One thing to do is be prepared, contact the rental company and enquire what their rules and regulations are and be ready by logging onto the DVLA ‘share your licence service.’