The scrap of paper that’s set to vanish – ruining your holiday plans

FOR more than 80 years drivers have been forced to carry around a piece of paper laying bare, for all the world too see, whether they have a slew of endorsements or are ‘clean.’

But as of next Monday, this will no longer be the case, as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) moves towards a new digital, paper-free system.

All of our information will be on an online database and your paper driving licence can now be destroyed – but you must keep your photo card.

But it all may have big implications if you’re off abroad this summer as hire- care firms used to vet drivers via their paper licence.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

FROM June 8 on, all you will need to prove that you have sat and passed your driving test is the pink plastic card you will have been issued by the DVLA.

All of the information which was held on your paper counterpart will now be stored by the agency on a database.

This includes the details of which vehicles you are authorised to drive and any penalty points or convictions you have.

The DVLA database will, in theory, be the one- stop shop for you, your employer or anyone else who may need to check your motoring history.

WHY IS THE COUNTERPART BEING ABOLISHED?

The removal of paper licences is part of the major Red Tape Challenge which was launched by the UK Government last year.

This is a move which will see a number of public services move their databases online and cut the amount of paperwork carried out by authorities. It is hoped that this could save the Government as much as £8million a year.

Getting rid of the paper counterpart is the second change to come for drivers. In October last year the DVLA stopped handing out tax disks and i nstead number plate recognition is used to check that drivers have paid their Vehicle excise Duty.

It is also hoped that by moving to a digital service this could help cut down on fraud.

WHY WILL THE CHANGES HELP TO CUT FRAUD?

OFFICIALs hope that the changes could cut down on the number of f alse statements which are given by drivers to their insurance companies.

The My Licence website – a joint venture between the DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) – has been l aunched which will allow insurance companies direct access to customers’ and potential customers’ driving backgrounds.

Therefore insurers will not have to rely on people telling them of any past driving offences as they ca n now c heck t hi s for themselves.

Drivers will have to give companies permission to access this as well as telling them their driving licence number.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT ME?

In day-to-day life this probably won’t affect you too much, except for the fact that you no longer have to hold on to your paper counterpart. so, on a practical level it might make life that little bit easier.

But, if you do have to check your licence, or show proof of any convictions that you have, the changes will make this process longer.

The only way to access this information will be by phone, by post or by logging on to the DVLA website.

Any penalty points you currently have will still stand, but will now be moved over onto the digital database.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY PAPER COUNTERPART?

As you are no longer legally required to keep your counterpart you may be tempted just to rip it up. And the DVLA recommend that this is exactly what drivers do.

But, the AA disagrees. It believes that a ‘belt and braces’ approach should be taken to avoid any problems which may arise. This includes trying to hire a car abroad and providing employers with your driving history.

edmund King, president of the AA, said that not all car hire companies and foreign traffic police will be aware of the changes so it ‘might help’ to hang onto your paper licence. But the DVLA says it is confident that there will be no problems with the changeover and insists that the counterpart be destroyed.

WHAT IF I GOT MY LICENCE BEFORE 1998 AND PRE THE PHOTO CARD?

IF your driving l i cence was issued before 1998 – you must keep it. This will remain your only valid driving licence.

however, unlike before, if you do commit any driving offences these will no longer be recorded directly on your licence.

Again, all penalty points will be put onto the online database and this will be the only place to view them.

If you require to change any details on your licence, such as name or address, you will be issued with an updated photo card and your paper licence will no longer be valid.

HOW CAN I CHECK MY POINTS TOTAL AND ENTITLEMENTS?

There are a number of ways you can check this, although it won’t be as easy – or as cheap – as l ooking at your l i cence anymore.

You can either check online, phone the DVLA or inquire by post. To do this you will require your driving licence number, your national insurance number and your postcode.

To check your licence online you must go to https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.

There is then a short form you should fill in with the aforementioned information before you can access your details.

To apply by post you should fill in a ‘request form,’ which is available online with all the relevant information including your name and address.

You must also include a cheque or postal order for £5 made out to DVLA, swansea.

WON’T THIS CAUSE CHAOS WITH MY HOLIDAY?

While there will be no mad rush to track down your paper licence which you have not seen since your last holiday, there will be the added annoyance of having to source and note down an online ‘access code.’

To check your licence, hire companies must be provided with a ‘single-use code’ which you can f i nd on the DVLA website.

To get this you must log in with your driving licence details. This will then give you the code which – along with the last eight digits of your licence – should be given to the hire company.

Watch out – the code expires after just three days, so if you are picking up a hire car in your second week abroad you will need to get online while abroad.

You should check with the hire company you are using before travelling to make sure they need the code – some may not require to see your driving history.

Critics predict a long, hot summer of chaos for British drivers aboard as the system beds in.

WHAT IF I ACQUIRE PENALTY POINTS AFTER JUNE 8?

FOR the most part this will stay the same. You will still have to pay any applicable fine and present your driving licence to the courts if you are caught committing an offence.

however, the paperwork element of this will significantly change with the switch over to digitally recording offences and ‘endorsements.’

This process will mainly affect the court staff who must process your offences, and will essentially make the process easier.

After you present your licence, the courts will then contact the DVLA and tell them of any points which should be added to your licence.

The DVLA will then update the digital database.

HOW CAN I CHECK AN EMPLOYEE’S LICENCE?

In a similar fashion to foreign car- hire companies, you will require a single-use access code and the final eight digits of your employee’s driving licence.

A new webpage which is being set up by the DVLA will be activated next week and this will allow you to check any penalty points or disqualifications.

The code will only last three days and will only allow you to view the details once.

You could also ask your employee to conatct the DVLA itself and pass on results.