Changes are afoot regarding hiring a car overseas using a UK driving licence, I'm glad I caught this one although I do not fully understand the implications http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32481382 Seems a lot of hassle, I'm so used to just showing my picture driving licence and that is that, I don't like the idea of messing around getting a damn code every time I hire a car at the airport.
I always thought your points were shown on the reverse side of the photo licence, I'm lucky I've never had any so I don't know. This business of having to get a token seems really inconvenient to me, good idea to get rid of the paper counterpart though.
I did hire a car at one of Rome's airports last september and although on the website it was requested to have to show the paper counterpart I was never asked for it at check in... Come to thimk of it I wasn't asked to show it 5 years earlier neither..
I think this is what this is all about. On the news they pointed out that the old style paper licence is okay, but the new style paper license not. The new dual part card of the new system doesnt have your points history on it. Hence the problem. Your card will not have your points history on it..... Not sure. I think thats what she was saying. I will need to watch it again as my daughter was bouncing up and down on my knee while it was on. I thought she said something about scrapping the new system, or the paper part of it?
I've only ever been asked for the counterpart a couple of times before, I thought the whole idea of have the photo licence was to do away with the need for the counterpart. I wonder if other European drivers licenses have a counterpart? And regarding if you have points on your licence, are you not allowed to hire a car or something if you have too many points or do they just put up the car insurance cost when you are hiring the car?
Well, we've had this system for quite a few years now so why do they want to change it now, I sometimes travel at a few hours notice, I don't want to be farting about getting a token online, its all very inconvenient, something else for me to moan about now
"Many British people travelling abroad could find they can't pick up hire cars, as the DVLA scraps the two-part paper and photocard driving licence." Daily Mirror.
What does it mean for me? "If you already have a photocard licence, the DVLA is advising drivers to destroy the document as it will no longer be legally valid. Those who wish to access licence information, such as penalty points, will have to do so online, by phone or via post. Those who do not have a plastic card should keep hold of their paper licence as it will still be valid."
Points have never been on the photo card, always been on the paper part, I've only ever had 6 points spaced over 12 years and currently have a clean licence but I agree this issue seems like a pain in the backside. However were we not an exception in having a paper part, do other countries have a two part licence?
Like oss says, its going to be a pain in the backside if hire car companies play it by the book and ask for the code.
I thought I read the token only lasts for three days, crap idea anyway, and yes the idea probably came from our European friends
By phone or on the internet, its crazy, how many times have you hired a car when on business and you are not sure when you will be taking the car back?
