Car Hire Abroad

[Nibble]

Beware!!!!!

If you are intending to hire a car abroad AFTER 08/06/2015, then we'll need a special code from the DVLA to prove that we have only the convictions noted by DVLA, and this must be done before leaving this country, and the code is only valid for 72 hours, so anyone wanting to hire a car more than three days into their trip will need to generate a new code while they are abroad.

Given the flaky-ness of the "normal" DVLA website, I'm not holding out any hope for a smooth car hiring experience :((

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32481382

[ToraToraTora]

you can just go to the site on your phone and fill in the details, not sure why you'd need a code. The car hire companies will probably start asking for driver no/NI number/ etc.try it: https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record/licence-number

[Nibble]

Seems to be when they stop issuing the paper counterpart of the licence, in effect they'll need some way of checking the details by computer, hence the "new" code, TTT, don't hold out much hope for it though. IMO, you'll probably find issues when picking up "your" car in foreign airports ...... Not a good way to start the holiday

[Buenchico]

Explained here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn2A8E2xo1I

[New Judge]

As 3Ts points out, it's not an insurmountable problem. But it's yet another example of badly thought through legislation where some idiot in an office has decided "That's a good idea I've come up with" (whilst trousering his "bonus" for saving the government some cash) without thinking through the consequences.

Of course those of us lucky enough to have been able to hold on to our old style paper licences have no such problem !!

[Prudie]

I'll probably take some notice but having hired cars abroad 2 or 3 times a year for a long time we have never ever been asked to provide the paper part of our licence, just the the pink card.

[Buenchico]

>>>Of course those of us lucky enough to have been able to hold on to our old style paper licences have no such problem !!

Except, possibly, NJ that staff in overseas car hire companies might not even recognise a UK paper licence when they're presented with one! (I've got one as well but I've never tried using it to hire car).

[Nibble]

Don't think they'd accept my old one laminated (purely for posterity), as it doesn't feel the same.

[Buenchico]

Incidentally, although the current publicity seems to relate solely to hiring a car abroad, exactly the same thing will apply when hiring a car in this country if the hirer imposes a limit on the maximum number of points on a potential driver's licence.

(Just to confuse things further, it doesn't apply to drivers in Northern Ireland, who'll retain the paper counterparts to their driving licences anyway).

[ToraToraTora]

once the hire companies get up to speed they'll just ask for the driver /NI number when you actually book the hire.

[New Judge]

Never had any problems, chico, and I have had hire cars all over the continent as well as in India, Kenya and the Caribbean.

[malagabob]

Have not had any problems yet Chris, have been using my old pink paper licence to hire cars in Spain and Portugal.Due another trip soon so will report back on any problems.