Rule changes come into place on Monday for all UK drivers. Are You Ready For The New Licence?

The paper part of the UK driving licence is being scrapped next week, which will have several knock-on effects for motorists, particularly those looking to hire a car.

Newly qualified drivers will no longer receive the counterpart, and instead will simply be issued with a card licence.

This move comes as part of an effort by the DVLA to streamline its services. Where the counterpart licence previously held details of penalty points and driving restrictions imposed on the licence holder, this information will now be held online, with drivers able to print out details as required.

Administration of penalty points will change, with drivers required to surrender their photocard licence temporarily to have the endorsements added.

Hiring a car will also become slightly more complicated, as firms don't consider the photocard licence to be adequate proof of ID alone. Customers will now have to obtain a 'check code' from the DVLA website, within 72 hours of renting a car, which can be used by the hire firm to check details.

To obtain a check code, drivers will need their full driving licence number, national insurance number and their postcode. Each code can only be used once, and only five can be requested in a 72-hour period.

However, drivers are currently advised to carry their counterpart with them anyway when travelling abroad, in case the car-hire desk in question isn't aware of the changes.

Sarah Sillars, the Institute of Advanced Drivers' 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 Press Association reports.

"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."

Story From Here

http://cars.aol.co.uk/2015/06/05/counterpart-driving-licence-axed-from-monday/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D356378

Just read the above story / report ... thought it one to share.

All the best Jan

Don't have any problems with the licence Jan thanks, on the other hand I'm faced with a dilemma over my car tax. Having just received a reminder that it's due at the end of the month should I pay the full £20 in one installment or opt for the approximate monthly payments of £1.75  which comes to £21

Oh Dear ...

Drivers' fury as DVLA website crashes on first day after rule change that requires motorists to generate a code every time they want to hire a car. Paper licence counterpart replaced with an online database from today. Drivers wanting to hire car must generate online code which lasts 72 hours. Code allows hire company to check driving records but firms abroad may not be aware of the changes. Motorists trying to get codes complain DVLA website is crashing as thousands attempt to access page.

...  it appears that "Drivers attempting to generate a code that will allow them to hire a car in Europe have been struggling to access the DVLA website on the first day since the new requirement was introduced.
New rules abolishing the old paper part of UK driving licences mean drivers must get a unique code if they want to hire a car.
The changes were introduced today, but motorists attempting to get a code from the DVLA have reported problems with the agency's website."

Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-3115337/DVLA-website-crashes-day-rule-change-requires-drivers-generate-code-time-want-hire-car.html#ixzz3cUnxLcdp

All the best Jan