Paper section of driving licence to be scrapped by DVLA: What do I need to know?

[Conniff]

Driving licences will go paperless from June as the government continues to press ahead with plans to take more service online.

 

 

For the past 17 years drivers have had to keep two parts of a driving licence: one a sheet of paper detailing their penalty points and endorsements, and the other a plastic ID card. The government has decided to phase out the paper element of the licence.

 

 

"The reason for abolishing the counterpart is to reduce the burden on motorists,” a government spokesperson explained.

 

 

"For most drivers there simply isn’t a need to have this information on a piece of paper when it is now freely and easily available online. It also saves drivers from paying £20 to replace a lost or damaged counterpart," they told the Plymouth Herald.

 

 

When are the changes coming into effect?

Earlier this year minister announced that all paper counterparts to licences would no longer be valid after 8th June this year. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are also advising all drivers to destroy their paper counterparts.

 

 

If my licence was issued before 1998 do I need to get a new licence?

No. Your licence will still be valid and does not need to be replaced, until it is due for renewal.

"The next time you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only," a DVLA spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph.

 

 

How will I check my driving record?

All of your details – and the details of Britain’s approximately 30 million motorists – will be compiled on an online database that you will be able to access. The decision is part of the government’s “Red Tape Challenge”.

The site, launched last year, is available here but those who wish can still request their records either by telephone or post.

 

 

I’m a business owner and employer. How will these changes affect me?

A similar site for employers, allowing them to check the driving details of possible employees, is planned for launch at some point in spring this year. A date for the launch has not yet been released.

[maroondevo52]

Good

[Ell-enn]

Does that mean I need to get a photo licence ?

[queensclose]

Does that mean I need to get a photo licence ?

 

only when you come to update it. like moving address

[topcat1802]

I wonder what car hire companies are going to do now? Especially foreign ones!

[citizenkain]

invest in bigger computers

[topcat1802]

invest in bigger computers

 

 

Its doesn't matter how big the computer is, if they don't have an internet connection then they won't be able to see your driving record! So how will they know you don't have 12 points on your license

[Conniff]

Its doesn't matter how big the computer is, if they don't have an internet connection then they won't be able to see your driving record! So how will they know you don't have 12 points on your license

 

 

This get me and mrs conniff at home when lots of ads for things that were available easily are now turning to online only. There really are hundreds of thousands of people who don't have, and lots who don't want, a computer.

[DragonFly1967]

This get me and mrs conniff at home when lots of ads for things that were available easily are now turning to online only. There really are hundreds of thousands of people who don't have, and lots who don't want, a computer.

 

True, but I'd put money on it that your average car rental company ain't one of them.

[citizenkain]

theres millions of computers,it is the 21st century,you can be sure a computer will find you

[citizenkain]

Originally Posted by topcat1802 Its doesn't matter how big the computer is, if they don't have an internet connection then they won't be able to see your driving record! So how will they know you don't have 12 points on your license

what kind of a business in 2015 isn't going to have an internet connection?,,,are you for real???

[maroondevo52]

 

 

I’m a business owner and employer. How will these changes affect me?

A similar site for employers, allowing them to check the driving details of possible employees, is planned for launch at some point in spring this year. A date for the launch has not yet been released.

 

Ah, that was the one I was wondering about, no that I'm a Business owner but my wife deals with that sort of thing at work.

[topcat1802]

Originally Posted by topcat1802 Its doesn't

what kind of a business in 2015 isn't going to have an internet connection?,,,are you for real???

 

 

You would be very surprised how may companies do not have any sort of internet access some are still in the 19th Century!! I have hired a van in the past 12 months and the van hire company still used paper records stored in a filing cabinet!

[citizenkain]

well,thats hard to believe how they survive in this day and age

[topcat1802]

I know they are either dinosaurs (been extinct for 65 million years) or Luddites (many executed, or transported to Australia!!!).

[SabreSheep]

It is called word of mouth

If you are generally good at what you do, your reputation does the marketing for you.