Paper part of driving licence to be scrapped

[j2 lot]

"Green paper counterpart driving licence scrapped from 2015

The Government has finally woken up to what we all know already - that the green paper part of your driving licence is pretty pointless and most of the information is on your photo card licence already.

Let's face it, they are mostly left in people's cupboards, and if they ever get near a motorcycle often end up getting wet and dishevelled. So, after a consulatation called the Red Tape Challenge consultation on road transportation they are officially going to scrap them from 2015. More details of their plan were released today.

Photo card licences, like the ones many of still have will continue, but the paper part will be abolished.

Instead of the floppy piece of green paper often asked for my hire companies, and track day organisers, the paper will be replaced with an online record website. The ‘View Driving Record’ website will offer free access for licence holders to view personal details, endorsements and entitlements. The Police will also have access to the site.

Track day organisers and firms that need access to your driving licence record (like hire car companies) can also have access to some of that information once they are given permission by you to access it online. You can view a 'Beta test' version of the site and check your details here. The full version of the site will get a launch later this year.

Paper licences issued before the photo card came into effect in 1998 will remain valid, and people with the old licence will still be able to access the online service.

The Government hasn’t yet decided what to do with the paper card licences still in circulation and already issued."


8

[tut]

"that the green paper part of your driving licence is pretty pointless"

Well it is for some of us..........

tut

[mxvx]

Finally
Some sense

[robin]

I still have my 1996 paper license, so I don't consider it "pointless" - I laminated it about 15 years ago

I don't need or want a photo license, not least because I don't understand what use it is. In situations where I need and want to identify myself to somebody, I have a passport which I already pay a lot of money to renew every 10 years. Why do I need a second photographic identification that I also have to renew (and pay for) every 10 years?

I like the idea of online records to be looked up - that is a much more useful development than photo license.

Cheers,
Robin

[Corranga]

Good and bad news here. Good in that the paper bit is pointless. Bad in that when the DVLA instructed the photo card the first place they managed to lose records of some categories on some people's licences meaning they had to resit some tests, such as bike tests. Let's hope they get it right this time!

[mxvx]

See your point robin. To me its much cheaper to be replaced than passport and can be carried in my wallet. My paper license is also wrecked due to not getting it laminated / taking care of it. My photo card obviously is in great condition.

[mxvx]

Good and bad news here. Good in that the paper bit is pointless. Bad in that when the DVLA instructed the photo card the first place they managed to lose records of some categories on some people's licences meaning they had to resit some tests, such as bike tests. Let's hope they get it right this time!

Jesus - that would be a major PITA.

[IanD]

I still have my 1996 paper license, so I don't consider it "pointless"

Me too, 1996 as well as that was when we last moved house.
I did check before going on holidays it was still valid as everyone kept saying you should have a card.
Car Hire company had a chuckle as well as I brought out my well folded green paper licence out if it's original plastic folder I got from the DVLA in 96, maybe it will be worth money as a collectors item soon.

[tut]

No choice when you hit 70.

tut

[tonyg]

I still have my 1996 paper license, so I don't consider it "pointless"

Me too, 1996 as well as that was when we last moved house.
I did check before going on holidays it was still valid as everyone kept saying you should have a card.
Car Hire company had a chuckle as well as I brought out my well folded green paper licence out if it's original plastic folder I got from the DVLA in 96, maybe it will be worth money as a collectors item soon.

I still have my original 1976 pink licence - i think if i took it out of the folder it might fall to pieces

[Ferg]

Travelling through uk airports a lot makes a UK photo license a good thing to have. Fits in your wallet, unlike a passport.

This seems a good move. I'd be interested how they establish that a person gets permission to view your records. Lots of good ways to do it, but access control is kind of critical so hope it's solid, two factor even.

[Sparky]

Good news - keep losing the fecking thing!

[campbell]

Inspired.

If only they'd launched this before April 2010, when I arrived in Orlando with family in tow and reached the car hire desk to find I had only the photo card part - which indeed fits nicely in your wallet so you always have it with you

Been a supporter of photo license since its launch, I'm on my second. Very pleased to see the back of the "paper counterpart". And like Ferg, it's truly excellent for UK domestic flight ID. Has probably saved me several replacement passports already

[robin]

I have no need to carry identification or licence on a daily basis, nor do I have a wallet .

In the event of me needing to show my licence I'll be happy to nip down the police station in 6.99 days and hand it over for inspection.

I guess people who fly a lot probably like the photo id part of the driving licence because it serves as handy identification, but you are in a tiny minority and it has feck all to do with driving (which is the purpose of the driving licence). Meanwhile the rest of us will eventually be forced to hand over increasing sums of money every 10 years to put a photo on something that will gather dust in the cupboard.

The real crims will not bother with any of it, as usual, and will mostly get away with it, even when caught.

If it's a format issue, why didn't they just replace the paper thing with a plastic thing and not bother with the photo - what is the point of the photo and the associated 10 yearly fee?

Cheers,
Robin

[campbell]

Our experiences are obviously just different...happy to be in a minority group

Photo card has also proven useful recently when helping Eilidh to test ride new bikes and hire one out for a longer trial! (Handed over as security deposit).

And they definitely wear better than the old paper ones.

Perhaps passport and license could be combined one day. 2 for the price of 1. Save two fees and help rationalise two depts down to one?