Since 8th June, the DVLA has no longer issued paper counterparts to photocard driving licences. This impacts drivers, employees and organisations that require access to verified driving records. The DVLA has produced detailed advice relating to this which can be found on the following website – www.gov.uk/dvla/nomorecounterpart.
So what do the changes mean for drivers?
• Drivers do not need to do anything; they just keep their current photocard driving licence. The paper counterpart should now be destroyed.
• Paper licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 will remain valid and should not be destroyed.
How will drivers check their driver record?
The DVLA have launched an online service giving drivers 24/7 access to what vehicles they can drive and details of any penalty points. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence. To access the information the driver will require their:
- Driving licence number
- Postcode
- National Insurance Number
How will Employers and other third party organisations verify driver records?
The first option is to request that the driver provides a summary of their driving licence information. Please note that document will only be accurate at the time of the download and represents a snapshot of the record at the time.
The second option is the DVLA’s free 24/7 shared driving licence service. This allows the driver to share an access code with their employer (plus the last eight digits of their licence) granting them access to that driver’s licence details. Again the same parameters apply to this, this is a snapshot and will be dated, timed and will only be valid at the time the information is requested.
The other option currently available to employers is the use of a third party company. For a small fee (often around £5-£7 per driver) a third party will check the driver records of the employee(s) and provide online reports to the employer. The employer is only responsible for providing a signed permission form, from each driver, allowing the third party access to their details for 3 years. Our opinion is this is the most effective and efficient method of collecting driver’s licence details and ensuring your drivers hold the relevant licence to drive your vehicles.
What other ways can licences be checked?
- By phone. This requires the drivers consent which we recommend you obtain in writing. Please note this is on the DVLA’s premium line so therefore these will cost 51p per minute.
- By post: You will need to write to the DVLA and pay the relevant £5 fee. Again driver consent must be obtained and they have to complete a form D881.
How will this impact your motor insurances?
Your duty to disclose relevant driving records to your insurers, regarding you or your employees, remain unchanged.
If you require any further information regarding these changes and the impact to your insurances, we recommend you contact your insurance broker.