Driving Licence Abroad - paper counterpart obsolete 8th June

[Truckosaurus]

I assume the hire car company has to then take the code you give them and look it up somewhere on the DVLA site? So why do you have to have the code at the start, why can't you just look it up at the same time?

[schmalex]

... But there doesn't appear to be a code when you log in!

[PurpleTurtle]

ecs said:

All you need to do is phone up for the code - hardly the end of the world.

But you don't: you need to log in (requiring internet access and a printer) to get something that lasts for three days. On day 4 you have to do it all again. Ridiculous.

[HarryFlatters]

schmalex said:

... But there doesn't appear to be a code when you log in!

I'm assuming that this part of the system doesn't go live until the 8th June, when the paper counterpart becomes obsolete.

[LaserTam]

Only just seen this thread. I am off to Portugal just before this 8th June deadline and will be hiring for a week. I am gonna hope that the paper licence is sufficient (assuming they ask for it) when I pick up.

[PurpleTurtle]

FWIW Avis are our corporate car hire partner at work, they put out a mailshot last week, which is on this link

Avis UK would like to assure all our customers that we will not be refusing any rentals because a customer cannot share the counterpart to their licence, subject to compliance with our terms & conditions.

All very sensible, hope the rest of the rental market follows suit that this is a preposterous system put forward by the idiots at the DVLA.

[Chucklehead]

For what it's worth, I work in the industry and yes, everyone has sent similar mailshots. It'll only really be an issue in the UK. A few have said that they will require the code to rent in the UK.

[Chucklehead]

Just to update, as I've heard more recently.

Hertz (and so by default some of the Thrifty and Dollar operations) have said that they will ask for the code in: UK, Armenia, Austria, Balearics, Canaries, Hungary, Oman, Slovenia, Sweden and Tunisia.

Whether they do or not remains to be seen, but they've said the will.

[Halmyre]

Chucklehead said:

Just to update, as I've heard more recently.

Hertz (and so by default some of the Thrifty and Dollar operations) have said that they will ask for the code in: UK, Armenia, Austria, Balearics, Canaries, Hungary, Oman, Slovenia, Sweden and Tunisia.

Whether they do or not remains to be seen, but they've said the will.

I've never actually used Hertz, and now I'm even less inclined to do so.

[PurpleTurtle]

Seems to have worked out well then

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3116259/As...

[Halmyre]

A spokesman for the DVLA said motorists could download their data to a PDF for storage on a mobile device.

What next, print it out and carry it alongside their licence?

[toon10]

Yeah I'mhaving the same issues as the guy in the link. Timeouts followed by the occasional your details are incorrect message. Computer says no. Dear lord, at least test the thing before you go live people.

[madbadger]

I tried to do it yesterday and the code thing doesn't work.

There is also advice on the website telling you to destroy your counterpart so it won't be much use abroad.

[madbadger]

Works fine now.

One of my staff has just given me his code, but I don't appear to be able to do anything with it!

[audidoody]

i've been hiring cars in France for 10 years. They've never taken the paper part out of its wallet much less looked at it.

Compete media clickbait scare mongering

Europcar and Avis have already confirmed you've never needed the paper part.

[Old Merc]

Don't know what all the fuss is about? its no big deal,who wants bits of paper anyway?
I`ve known about this for quite some time,I think someone mentioned it months ago on PH.
Any way I did a test on June 1st got my code immediately and printed the page.I then did another test one today,no problems.
Like most people I don't think I've ever shown my paper bit to anyone,including hire car firms.

[toon10]

Old Merc said:

Don't know what all the fuss is about? its no big deal,who wants bits of paper anyway?
I`ve known about this for quite some time,I think someone mentioned it months ago on PH.
Any way I did a test on June 1st got my code immediately and printed the page.I then did another test one today,no problems.
Like most people I don't think I've ever shown my paper bit to anyone,including hire car firms.

I was asked for the paper part many years ago in Florida for a hire car. They eventually let me have the car but it was touch and go. I've taken it with me ever since and never been asked for it.

I don't mind the new system in principle but the code should last a lot longer (maybe a month even) and the web site just doesn't work. I got the same issues reported in the media. I put the correct details in and it just can't find me. Once they sort that out, it'll be OK.

[HarryFlatters]

So, has anyone had any issues hiring a car since June 8th?

[RicksAlfas]

72 hour download code now extended to 3 weeks! Only took them a month to realise it was a barmy idea.

http://fleetworld.co.uk/news/2015/Jul/DVLA-extends...

[Super Slo Mo]

HarryFlatters said:

So, has anyone had any issues hiring a car since June 8th?

No, hired one in Canada a few weeks back, no issues.

To be fair, I've not been asked for the counterpart in years anyway, it's really only the UK where it's been a requirement.