Driving Licence Abroad - paper counterpart obsolete 8th June
Discussion
Maybe I've been living under a rock, but I didn't realise that the paper counterpart piece of the UK driving licence becomes obsolete on 8th June.
As a consequence, when hiring a car abroad after this date, it is necessary to log on to the View My Driving Licence page of the DVLA website and download a code that confirms how many endorsements are on your licence. However, not all hire companies will request this info (in the same way that not all hire companies request the paper counterpart currently)
News linky below...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32481382
As a consequence, when hiring a car abroad after this date, it is necessary to log on to the View My Driving Licence page of the DVLA website and download a code that confirms how many endorsements are on your licence. However, not all hire companies will request this info (in the same way that not all hire companies request the paper counterpart currently)
News linky below...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32481382
From what they were saying on the radio it's all a bit of a fk up (surprise surprise!). If you're hiring a car overseas take the paper counterpart, a print out of the info from the web site, and the code to avoid all risk of getting your hire refused. Also the code is only valid for something like 72 hours so if you're away for a longer time and only hiring a car for some of your holiday you'll need to get on the Internet while you're away.
Also seems like they've pretty much failed to publicise any of this.
Also seems like they've pretty much failed to publicise any of this.
I've never been asked for the counterpart in Europe, the US or Australia. Hire companies couldn't care less that I might have an SP30 on my licence, whatever that is. It sounds like the UK needlessly adding embuggerance to the system, which makes me wonder (dons tinfoil hat) what the real need for it might be.
Before grumbling about this have a go yourself, you'll need driving licence number/Ni number/postcode and about 30 seconds free time.
https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
Piece of piss!
https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
Piece of piss!
Sharted said:
Before grumbling about this have a go yourself, you'll need driving licence number/Ni number/postcode and about 30 seconds free time.
https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
Piece of piss!
Due to a technical problem, the website is not currently working https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
Piece of piss!
Whilst I have hired cars all over the world (showing the counterpart on maybe half of those occasions) and don't object to printing off my details in principle, this bit pisses me off:
Anyone wanting to hire a car abroad could need a code to show convictions for offences like speeding. To obtain it, motorists will have to log on to the DVLA website beforehand. But the code is only valid for 72 hours, so anyone wanting to hire a car more than three days into their trip may need to generate a new code while they are abroad
What kind of bureacrat decides that 3 days is a reasonably workable time period for this kind of thing? Last time I was in the US I did a bit of hopping about by plane and car, not knowing exactly where I was going to be a few days ahead, so my rental plans were what you might call 'fluid'. Although it was possible in most hotels, it is inconvenient to always have to have a bloody bit of paper within a poxy three day lifespan. What if I was further off the beaten track?
This kind of horsest is probably dreamt up by idiots who think a package holiday to the sun for a fixed two weeks in August is the only foreign motoring that anyone ever does. Cocks.
Anyone wanting to hire a car abroad could need a code to show convictions for offences like speeding. To obtain it, motorists will have to log on to the DVLA website beforehand. But the code is only valid for 72 hours, so anyone wanting to hire a car more than three days into their trip may need to generate a new code while they are abroad
What kind of bureacrat decides that 3 days is a reasonably workable time period for this kind of thing? Last time I was in the US I did a bit of hopping about by plane and car, not knowing exactly where I was going to be a few days ahead, so my rental plans were what you might call 'fluid'. Although it was possible in most hotels, it is inconvenient to always have to have a bloody bit of paper within a poxy three day lifespan. What if I was further off the beaten track?
This kind of horsest is probably dreamt up by idiots who think a package holiday to the sun for a fixed two weeks in August is the only foreign motoring that anyone ever does. Cocks.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Tuesday 5th May 14:28
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