On 8 June the paper counterpart to the photo card driving licence became invalid, and was replaced by MyLicence, an online digital system. GreenFleet examines what these changes may mean for UK drivers and fleet operators, and the complications that may arise
The government’s decision to replace the paper counterpart to the photo card driving licence with an online service is being reported to potentially save the taxpayer millions each year. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will no longer issue a paper driving licence, leaving ministers arguing that the changes, like those made to tax discs last year, will streamline services and save money. MyLicence, the new online service that will be used is a joint venture between the DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) and will seek to save an estimated £8 million.
Explaining the new system Oliver Morley, chief executive of DVLA, said: “It’s very easy to view and share your driving record. Just go to gov.uk and search for ‘view driving licence’. You can view your information electronically and generate a check code which you can then share with people who need to see your details (such as an employer or car hire company). If you want to, you can also download and print a summary.”
Alternatives to using the DVLA’s online checking service is to ring its premium rate number. Note however that this will not give an authenticated record of the date and time that the driving licence check was made if it is required for auditing purposes. Alternatively, employers can use an accredited driving licence verification service provider.
Cutting red tape
It has been reported that last year alone 445,000 counterparts had to be replaced because of loss, with each replacement counterpart costing £20. The government has informed that there are 46.4 million licence holders in Great Britain, of which 37.7 million have a photo card driving licence. The removal of the counterpart is part of a major ‘red tape’ abolition policy by the government motoring agencies with many facets now moving online.
The counterpart was introduced alongside the photo card driving licence in 1998 to include details such as any endorsements and which category of vehicles an individual is entitled to drive.
Transport Minister Lord Ahmad said: “Replacing the counterpart with an online service will save motorists money and reduce unnecessary red tape. It will also benefit employers and vehicle hire companies. Relying on the counterpart meant relying on a potentially out of date piece of paper. Now, when the driver chooses to share it, those organisations will be able to see completely accurate information direct from DVLA’s records. This will reduce their risk and improve road safety.
“The paper counterpart includes information on a driver’s penalty points along with details of what vehicles they can drive. Drivers still need to keep their actual driving licence, whether it is a plastic photocard licence or an old style paper licence which was issued before 1998.”
Paying the penalty
New penalty points (endorsements) will only be recorded electronically, and will not be printed or written on either photocard licences or paper driving licences. If you commit a driving offence you will still have to pay any applicable fine and submit your licence to the court, but the way the court deals with the paperwork will change.
For photocard licences, the court will retain the paper counterpart and only return the photocard to you. For paper licences, the court will return it but they won’t have written or printed the offence details on it.
This means that neither the photocard driving licence nor the paper licence will provide an accurate account of any driving endorsements an individual may have. Instead, this information will be held on DVLA’s driver record, and can be viewed online, by phone or post. The courts are unable to respond to queries about the destruction of the paper counterpart. Any concerns about this process should be directed to the DVLA.
Non–UK driving licence holders renting in the UK aren’t affected by the changes but they will need to bring a second form of ID such as a passport, together with their valid driving licence.
MyLicence will also enable insurance companies to check drivers’ licences in an attempt to cut down on fraud. It is hoped that the changes will restrict the amount of drivers who make false statements when taking out car insurance concerning previous motoring convictions that could invalidate a policy.
Major concerns
However, despite the promise of saved money, several organisations who use vocational drivers from the Continent have shown disappointment. European drivers are encouraged to obtain a counterpart so that points can be attributed to an individual’s licence. However, since licences will no longer be endorsed with penalty points, the only way an employer is able to check a licence being presented to them is by checking with the DVLA.
Unfortunately, despite continued requests that this information be made available through the online systems, the DVLA has failed to provide a facility other than a telephone number which is only available during working hours for employers to check licence details – posing a substantial problem for fleets operating abroad or employing new drivers on a tight time scale.
Ian Gallagher, the Freight Transport Association’s lead on the DVLA, said: “This is completely unacceptable. DVLA has had fair warning of this requirement and will mean that some non UK drivers reporting for work will be sent home if their licence details can’t be verified, this information must be made available on the proposed checking systems at the earliest opportunity.’’
Many companies are also conscious of the implications the changes could have on test drives. With insurers expecting dealers to carry out additional checks – View My Licence or Share My Licence portals – it has the capability to turn into an administrative nightmare.
Dealers believe the imminent changes to these checks could significantly hamper a proportion of the 10,000–plus courtesy loan and test drives undertaken across the UK every day. It could also create additional costs, inefficiency and frustrated customers, if not handled well.
Hiring a car abroad
Information that will be stored online is the information that is usually needed to hire a car, which includes penalty points and the vehicles a motorist is able to drive abroad. Information about an individual’s driving history (including their endorsements) will only be accessible direct from DVLA. However, rental companies are not able to access a customer’s driving licence data direct from the DVLA, potentially causing problems when it comes to car hire.
Those wishing to hire a car abroad must first access the new Share Driving Licence website set up by the DVLA. After inputting a driving licence number, the postcode the licence was registered at and a national insurance number, the website will generate a unique code which a driver must keep alongside their photo card to the car hire company.
The code provided, however, is only valid for 72 hours after issue. This means that travellers and jet setters on long haul flights – say from London to Sydney – will have to be quick to hire a car at the start of their holiday period. This has caused a conflict as, while the DVLA are encouraging drivers licence holders to destroy their counterpart, the AA are suggesting travellers take both the photo card and paper counterpart.
Edmund King, the AA’s president, said: “What we don’t want to see are UK drivers, who may not be aware of the change or may bump into the unexpected such as the main driver becoming ill, being obliged to hire from dodgy car rental firms who don’t care about the driver’s record.
“Whilst most drivers will be happy to see the back of the cumbersome paper part of the photocard licence, there is widespread confusion as to what they should now do to ensure they stay within the law and what documentation will be required at the rental check–in desk.
“Taking a copy of your driving licence on–line record will, hopefully, get holidaymakers through this summer, but a re-think may be needed if problems develop. One of the potential pitfalls may be drivers not knowing their national insurance number.”
The Institute of Advanced Motorist share similar concerns over the lack of awarenss regarding the changes. Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said: “People are not aware of how many of the current procedures are changing. Similar to the abolition of the tax disc, they assume much of what has happened before will continue.
“The onus is very much on the individual to obtain the information they need beforehand. So we very much hope people will not be caught unawares, especially if they don’t want a nasty surprise when arriving to collect their car at the start of their holiday.”
The incorrect documents
Leading financial comparison website money.co.uk conducted research, released on 30 May, stating that 79 per cent of drivers could arrive to pick up their hire cars abroad with the incorrect documents. The research also highlighted how 42 per cent of those questioned would have no idea what documents they should produce, while 73 per cent are not aware that they would have to produce a code.
Hannah Maundrell, editor in chief of money.co.uk, commented: “We appreciate the DVLA’s changes set out to make life simpler for drivers but teething problems are inevitable. This isn’t just about consumer awareness; it’s about how effectively car hire companies communicate the changes to their employees – including overseas outlets.
“With language barriers to overcome, we do not want to see holidays ruined and people stranded because they can’t pick up the hire vehicles they’ve booked. The important point here is to take; a print out of your driving record, a 72 hour access code, your photocard driving licence, a note of your national insurance number and paper counterpart just to be on the safe side. For drivers that need to access the internet whilst at the car hire office, finding free WiFi is key to avoid getting stung with expensive mobile roaming charges.”
In response to the internet access, leading rental car company Europcar has promised car hire customers internet access in any of its branches to access the necessary code.
Publicising the changes
A number of high profile organisations feel that not enough has been done to publicise the changes. According to a Nexus Vehicle Rental survey, 80 per cent of its 750 rental customers believed the changes had lacked publicity while 87 per cent predicted the new system will cause problems.
Mike Palmer, operations director at Nexus Vehicle Rental, said: “This is a worrying situation that perhaps could have been prevented if the changes had been publicised more widely in the media. We have issued communications to all of our customers and will be offering any advice and support we can as the check code is introduced.”
Gerry Keaney, BVRLA chief executive, said: “Replacing paper forms with digital services is a great idea, but the government has gone about this the wrong way by rushing the process and not giving enough warning to motorists.
“The online system being offered by the DVLA is far from ideal and the car rental industry is working with it as best it can. Customers can take extra precautions by ensuring that their rental company has access to their endorsement information – available via the DVLA’s Share Driving Licence service or its call centre.”
Further information
www.gov.uk/view–driving–licence