Abolition of driving licence paper counterpart 01/01/2015

[R0G]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-licence...

What to do with your paper counterpart from January 2015

If you don’t think you’ll need it, then you may destroy it. You should not destroy the counterpart before 1 January 2015.

[essayer]

Well that's handy, because I've lost mine


But what happens when we hire a car abroad?

[R0G]

essayer said:

Well that's handy, because I've lost mine


But what happens when we hire a car abroad?

Other EU states do not have a counterpart

[tenpenceshort]

essayer said:

Well that's handy, because I've lost mine


But what happens when we hire a car abroad?

They'll be able to check online. It should help prevent fraud where potential employees or car hirers use an old counterpart to claim they have a clean licence.

[NormalWisdom]

essayer said:

Well that's handy, because I've lost mine


But what happens when we hire a car abroad?

I have never been asked to show the green counterpart in 15 years of hiring abroad - I've hired once in the UK and they asked for it!!

[Riley Blue]

Always asked for it here, sometimes within a few days of a previous car hire - as if I'd fill it with endorsements in the meantime (I s'pose it could happen...)

[DanielSan]

This is some unusual common sense for a change. Never have seen the point of the paper part to be honest.

[Conscript]

Wow, spooky. Just last night I was filing away mine/my gfs new counterparts after a recent house move and caught myself wondering what was the point of having them.

[Chris Type R]

dvla said:

DVLA is developing a new digital enquiry service for launch later this year ....

I won't be in a hurry to destroy mine. Although, admittedly I can't remember when last I used it.

[Likes Fast Cars]

Let's hope this digital service manages to go live as planned and not become another major government project cock-up.

[Chris Type R]

Likes Fast Cars said:

Let's hope this digital service manages to go live as planned and not become another major government project cock-up.

^expensive^

[CB2152]

I left mine in my old car when I part-ex'ed it. Whoever bought it from the dealer afterwards returned it to me through the post. I didn't even realise I didn't have it until I opened the envelope with it in...

[cuprabob]

Beta of online system is available, although not everyone's details are on it. It's worth a check though.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

[Toaster Pilot]

I like this - tried out the beta and it worked fine for me too.

Also http://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk - check tax and mot status of any vehicle

[kambites]

About time. The thing shouldn't have existed in the first place.

[Lowtimer]

I've still got the paper one issued when I last moved house almost 20 years ago, and have therefore avoiding being afflicted by the two-part nonsense at all.

[mickrick]

About time. I only ever show my plastic one here in Spain anyway.

[98elise]

Lowtimer said:

I've still got the paper one issued when I last moved house almost 20 years ago, and have therefore avoiding being afflicted by the two-part nonsense at all.

Same here. Its stuffed in the back of my wallet, so its falling to pieces. It can only be folded/unfolded very carefully, and needs to be handled like a 1000 year old parchment.

When they do away with the two part, I'll change it.

[Who me ?]

Worked great for me. Forgotten about all those things I can drive. Possibly Jan can't come soon enough for me as my paper bit is almost falling to bits.

[voicey]

cuprabob said:

Beta of online system is available, although not everyone's details are on it. It's worth a check though.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Toaster Pilot said:

I like this - tried out the beta and it worked fine for me too.

Also http://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk - check tax and mot status of any vehicle

Thanks guys - great links