The DVLA have announced they will soon be making changes to the current UK driving licence, so we thought we’d use this as a good opportunity to update you all on the changes that will be taking place, so you can make sure you are fully compliant with all current DVLA regulations.

What’s happening?

From 8th June 2015, any paper counterpart of the driving licence will no longer hold any legal or valid status in the UK.

The paper part was only ever an extension of what couldn’t fit on the actual photo card itself e.g. penalties. But it is being abolished in an attempt to simplify the DVLA’s services, as it has came to light that there is a much more efficient way of doing this.

How does this affect me?

If you have a paper counterpart to your licence, as well as a photo card, you should safely destroy the paper part (we recommend shredding) and just keep the photo card. However, if the counterpart is the only evidence you have of a driving licence i.e it was issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998, then DO NOT destroy it as this can still be used as evidence of a valid driving licence.

If your counterpart is the only thing you have but your personal information on it is now out of date, for instance you may have married so your surname has changed or you have moved address, then you should apply for a new one and you will be issued with a photocard only, bringing you inline with new regulations.

Is there anything else I need to know?

On the whole, most things are now being done electronically, and the same can be said for the future of driving licences.

You can now log on to the DVLA website and view all of your personal details via their Shared Driving Licence service. This is ideal for those of you whose occupation is driving, as you can easily log on and download a copy of your licence to print out and share with employers.

Also, any penalty points you incur will no longer appear on your actual driving licence but will be stored on your electronic records.

The only exception to this change is residents of Northern Ireland who are legitimately exempt from the new rules.

So now you are up to date and in the the know about the recent changes to the UK driving licence, you can make sure your licence is compliant and legitimate, ready for the 8th June!

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