Hiring a car? You’ll need a DVLA code to do so from eight June

By Megan French, MSE News Reporter

If you’re planning to hire a car either here in the UK or abroad you may need to demonstrate a code from eight June, as the paper counterpart of photocard driving licences is being substituted with a fresh online system that day.

At present, anyone who passed their driving test after one thousand nine hundred ninety eight has a photocard driving licence and a paper counterpart. The paper part of the licence shows any points you may have received for violating the rules – for example, being caught driving quicker than the speed limit.

Drivers can already check their record on Gov.uk, but from eight June points will be stored online and not added to the paper licence, rendering it futile.

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This means if you’re hiring a car or need to provide your employer with evidence of your driving record, you may be asked for a code, which gives car hire companies or employers up to seventy two hours to check your history.

You may not be asked to provide a code, but to be safe, ensure you get one in advance (see below for how). See our Cheap Car Hire guide to cut Ј100s off holiday hire and insurance costs.

If you passed your driving test before 1998, you’ll have only have a paper driving licence, unless you’ve renewed after this date and now have a photocard licence plus a paper counterpart.

However if you’re one of seven million drivers who have a traditional paper driving licence only, don’t throw this away, as it’s different from the photocard paper counterpart and is still valid as your driving licence.

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In this screenplay, points will also be recorded online instead of on paper from eight June, so you’re still caught by this 72-hour code rule.

How do I request this code?

After eight June, the paper part of your licence will no longer be valid, and the traditional paper-only licences may not have your latest points and fines recorded, so you will have to plan ahead and request an access code for the company from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

You can do this via the fresh Share Driving Licence online service that will be launched at Gov.uk, or by calling the DVLA on three hundred 790 6801. The DVLA says these services will be available before eight June, albeit a date has yet to be set.

You will need to provide your driving licence number found on your photocard (or on your paper driving licence for paper-only motorists), National Insurance number and the postcode on your driving licence.

The code will be valid for seventy two hours, meaning those travelling abroad will have to be mindful of journey times and time differences.

Drivers will also be able to download a PDF of their licence, which will be worth taking as a precaution, but they will still need a code as well.

Do hire companies actually check driving licences?

In the UK, car rental companies are legally required to check your total driving licence, which presently includes the paper counterpart.

When travelling abroad, it varies country by country, but some hire companies do presently ask to see the paper counterpart of your photocard licence to check for any points and fines. So it’s likely they will proceed to check, but via the online system, from eight June.

Is there any alternative to requesting a code?

You can give permission for the car rental company to contact the DVLA and check the details over the phone when you get there, but beware of any international call charges or extra service costs this could rack up.

What should I do with my paper counterpart?

The DVLA is advising drivers to ruin the paper part of their photocard licence, albeit some driving organisations such as the AA are advising motorists to adopt a “belt and braces” treatment and keep hold of their paper counterpart for now in case there are any problems with the online service.

In particular, it is warning drivers who want to hire a car abroad to be extra cautious, as the companies, or even traffic police abroad, may not be aware of the switches.

However, DON’T demolish the traditional paper licences that were issued before 1998.

What happens if I get any fresh points or a fine from eight June?

You will still have to submit your licence and pay any fines, but the way the offence is recorded will switch. From eight June, any fresh endorsements will be recorded only online and will not be physically put onto your photocard licence or traditional paper licence.

If you submit the paper counterpart of your photocard licence and your photocard to record a fine, only the photocard will be sent back to you.

If you send off a pre-1998 traditional paper licence, it will be sent back to you and the points will be recorded online instead.

I drive for a living. What do the switches mean for me?

Those who need to provide an employer with a record of their driving history will also be able to use the Share Driving Licence service in the exact same way as outlined above.

Again, the code will be valid for seventy two hours for your employer to dual check any points or fines, and you will be able to print a PDF copy too.

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