Destroy your driving licence says DVLA

The DVLA recommends that motorists destroy the paper counterpart of their British driving licence when it is scrapped in a little over a week.

Paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 will remain valid and should not be destroyed.

The paper counterpart always seemed superfluous, and yet needed to be presented when hiring cars, so few will mourn its passing. However, many people are likely to unaware of the implications of its demise on 8 June.

The photocard driving licence has never been capable of storing endorsements and details of which category of vehicles the holder is entitled to drive.
However, this information is finally stored electronically and the counterpart will no longer carry any legal status. The DVLA recommends drivers destroy it after 8 June.

Unfortunately the change has not made the process of hiring a car any simpler. Drivers will be expected to use the DVLA Share Driving Licence Service to print off their current details Alternatively, they can call the DVLA and give permission for their details to be checked.

The best advice is for drivers to check with the hire car company before they pick up a car.

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