DVLA extends licence checking period to 21 days

DVLA extends licence checking period to 21 days

Posted by

Kevin Blackmore

July 2015

Driving-Licence-Article

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has extended the time period within which drivers can share their licence details with third parties from three days to three weeks.

Following the abolition of the traditional paper counterpart to the driving licence on June 8, the DVLA introduced an online system that allowed the electronic checking of all driving licences.

However to do so, drivers have to generate an access code from the DVLA website, which could then be used just once by a third party, such as an employer or daily rental company, to check that the licence details were valid and did not carry excessive endorsements.

The access code was originally only going to be valid for three days, which caused an outcry amongst fleet operators due to the shortness of the time available to verify drivers’ licence details and to ensure they were legally entitled to drive the cars they were allocated.

Now, the DVLA has announced that the access code will be valid for a 21 day period, giving companies  more time in which to carry out the necessary checks.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association claimed the new rule was a common sense approach that would reduce queues at rental desks and give millions of renters more time to plan and arrive prepared ahead of their journey.

Access codes are now valid for a 21 days, giving companies more time to carry out the necessary checks.

 

How to use the new system
The new online system which replaces the old manual one comprises a ‘View Driving Licence’ facility which is available via the Government’s View or share your driving licence information website. To be able to access their driving licence details online, you need to input:

  • Their driving licence number
  • Their National Insurance number
  • Their post code.

This then takes them to another part of the website, where they can, if they wish, generate a unique access code that they can share with employers or daily rental companies to provide them access to their licence details.

Driving licence information via the ‘Driving Record Share’ facility can only be made available with the consent of the driving licence holder.

The employer, or rental company, can use the driver-generated access code to check relevant licence details such as penalties or endorsements directly from the driver’s information held within the DVLA’s own driver database.
Traditionally, the driver licence counterpart carried details of any driving offences and endorsements that drivers might have received. But its abolition means there will no longer be any manual means of checking drivers’ licences, entitlements and endorsements.

What can Fleet Alliance offer?
Fleet Alliance already offers on online service, Licence Check, which reduces risk by  electronically checking drivers’ licences against DVLA licence data.

Licence Check helps comply with the Health and Safety guidelines regarding driver licence checking. Once drivers are set up, the process is automatic. This not only reduces the risks to the business but also reduces the administrative burden of checking licences.

Licence Check provides comprehensive and up to date data on your drivers, directly from DVLA data which also protects the company against fraud. Users can also choose the frequency of the checks and carry these out more often for drivers with driving convictions or a poor accident record.

At the same time, Fleet Alliance can provide help and advice in setting up your drivers for automated and secure driver licence checking.

Tips for fleets and drivers:

  • Digitalise your driving licence records as soon as possible
  • Ensure your chosen provider is giving the range of services you require
  • Consent can be easily obtained from employees before transferring licence checking online
  • Drivers need to understand that the counterpart can now be discarded as it is no longer valid
  • Drivers who only possess paper licences won’t be affected until they come to renew their licence

You also might like…

If you liked this article then check out our posts about similar topics

Chancellor cuts National Insurance, extends fuel duty freeze and fully expenses leased assets

In the last Budget before the General Election, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled a series of headline-grabbing initiative...

2024 will be the year of the EV with greater supply and lower prices, says Fleet Alliance

2024 will be the year that companies look to accelerate down the electrification route, as they seek to meet their own E...

Automotive transmission specialist Xtrac opts for EV salary sacrifice scheme from Fleet Alliance

Xtrac, the world’s leading supplier of high-performance transmissions for top level motorsport and high-performance au...

Fleet Alliance reports strong uptake in EV salary sacrifice

Increasing numbers of businesses are adding the employee benefit of leasing an EV through a salary sacrifice scheme to t...

Edwin James Group targets carbon reduction with electric vans from Fleet Alliance

Edwin James Group has taken delivery of its first electric vans from Glasgow-based fleet management specialist, Fleet Al...

IBMG halves its carbon footprint with Fleet Alliance

The Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG) has seen a reduction of more than 50% in the carbon footprint of its flee...

Fleet Alliance offers new tool to help businesses assess EV readiness

Fleet Alliance, the Glasgow-based leasing and fleet management specialist, has introduced a new solution to help busines...

Spring Budget brings a welcome cut to fuel duty

Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, brought some cheer for fleet operators when he confirmed that the 5p cut in fuel duty, announce...

Ready to make the management of your fleet more efficient?

Request a call back


Or Call Us On: 0345 601 8407
Schedule a call back