On June 8th 2015, the DVLA abolishes the paper counterpart of the UK driving licence. 

From that date the information about an individual’s driving history, including endorsements, will only be accessible directly from the DVLA. 

This means UK drivers renting a car need to plan ahead. 

Leading car hire provider, Europcar, has implemented a number of initiatives to minimise the impact on its customers’ car hire experience.

Because the DVLA has decided that rental companies cannot access a customer’s driving licence data direct it has developed an online system for the individual to obtain a code that can then be used by the rental company to check the licence. 

The code – valid for 72 hours - will be accessible from the DVLA’s ‘Share Driving Licence’ service. 

Car hire customers simply input their driving licence number, National Insurance number and home postcode to generate the code which they then give to a rental company when collecting their vehicle.

How Europcar is helping UK customers for UK rentals:

• For online bookings, customers will be directed to the DVLA service and reminded to get their code no earlier than 72 hours before picking up their car.
• Customers booking by phone will be given the same advice.
• Any customer submitting their email address or mobile number at the point of booking will also receive an email reminder or text message to ‘get your code’ 72 hours before their reservation is due to start.
• A 24-hour helpline for customer enquiries – 0116 217 3541
• Tablets and internet access is available in all branches to enable travellers to log onto the DVLA website if they haven’t already got their code.

Non-UK driving licence holders renting in the UK aren’t affected by the changes but they do need to bring a second form of ID such as a passport, along with their valid driving licence.

UK licence holders travelling abroad simply need to present their UK photocard driving licence or ‘old style’ paper-only driving licence plus a second form of ID such as their passport, when collecting their vehicle.

“The best way for customers to make sure they’re on the road with the minimum of delay, is by visiting ‘Share Driving Licence’ up to 72 hours before picking up the vehicle,” explained Ken McCall, managing director, Europcar UK Group.

“This way we get the information we need to ensure everyone booking a vehicle is fit to drive, keeping all of our customers and other road users safe.

“But if they don’t do that they just need to remember to bring their National Insurance number so that they can get their code online using one of our in-branch tablet devices.”