Don't be Left Stranded by the New Car Hire Law

kwmlondon

Rover_Driver wrote: »

That what the hire companies can do now, or pass you the phone to answer the questions, same as insurance companies.


They will also have electronic DVLA access when the new system is introduced.

I guess I'm just very sceptical that the system will cope when it's put under massive pressure, especially when everyone is so used to the paper license. I think it will be fine after a while, it's just that the civil service doesn't have a very good track record of IT solutions.

Hiring a car could be like getting through passport control in the UK until it's bedded in.

poppasmurf_bewdley

kwmlondon wrote: »

I guess I'm just very sceptical that the system will cope when it's put under massive pressure, especially when everyone is so used to the paper license. I think it will be fine after a while, it's just that the civil service doesn't have a very good track record of IT solutions.

Hiring a car could be like getting through passport control in the UK until it's bedded in.

Is that true? I haven't used my paper licence for the last 10 years at least, apart from needing it when I needed to renew it.

Johno100

kwmlondon wrote: »

I guess I'm just very sceptical that the system will cope when it's put under massive pressure, especially when everyone is so used to the paper license. I think it will be fine after a while, it's just that the civil service doesn't have a very good track record of IT solutions.

Hiring a car could be like getting through passport control in the UK until it's bedded in.

Well use the online system then.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

And it isn't Civil Servants who implement these systems it is the likes of Fujitsu.

kwmlondon

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Is that true? I haven't used my paper licence for the last 10 years at least, apart from needing it when I needed to renew it.

I've had to show mine every single time I take a hire car in the UK, which I do a couple of times a year. How else can you prove you've got a license? The ID card bit won't show if you're disqualified.

I used an international driving license in the USA, never taken one in europe.

kwmlondon

Johno100 wrote: »

Well use the online system then.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

And it isn't Civil Servants who implement these systems it is the likes of Fujitsu.

As it says "You should only use this service to view your own driving licence." That's stated at the top of the first page when you try to access YOUR license information.

Hertz, Europcar, all the rest of them are not allowed to access this page - they will not do it. It's for you and you alone.

What has been set up is a system whereby you go to another page and get a code that will allow the hire company to access your license information. It's a good solution and it will probably work fine, but because your license information needs to be up to date it will only be valid for 72 hours, and it can only be used once.

This should not be a problem, but at the moment it's pretty easy to hire a car in the UK. Show your ID and give them your paper bit to show you're not banned from driving. They take a photocopy, try to sell you an expensive insurance cover and then you get your car.

The system they're putting in place is new and Fujistu may have build a perfectly good solution, but what if it isn't? What if the DVLA have not done their homework, or have cut costs on the servers they have commissioned.

How can you possibly say it's not a good idea to think about potential problems and have a backup plan to sort out problems? Even if that just means making sure your phone is charged and you've printed out a screen-shot of your endorsements page?

Is it so bonkers to suggest phoning the car rental company the day before picking up a car to make sure that you're up to speed on their processes for coping with the move away from a paper-less license? I'm not even telling anyone what WILL happen or tha there will DEFINITELY be a problem, but I'm perplexed about how I'm getting stick for suggesting people check up before going to collect a hire car.

If I'm wrong then no harm done. Nobody loses out. At worst people will be reassured.

If I'm right, if what I've been told is correct, then this could potentially save some people a major headache.

Johno100

kwmlondon wrote: »

As it says "You should only use this service to view your own driving licence." That's stated at the top of the first page when you try to access YOUR license information.

Hertz, Europcar, all the rest of them are not allowed to access this page - they will not do it. It's for you and you alone.

What nonsense, an extra line in the hire agreement giving the hire company your permission to access that information on your behalf, is all that would be needed. Why make life so difficult?

Failing that then have a terminal where the individual can access and print their own details off.

colino

OK OP, your first post had a link that early on in its misleading script stated, "the paper part of your drivers licence will be completely invalid and will need to be destroyed". I think most readers would then have disregarded the rest as panic raising nonsense. It is untrue, it is an exaggeration, it is a lie.
Professional hirecos have always checked direct, they are going to continue to do so and in the past 18 months have laughed off the suggested, "improvements" to the system. They are not going to trust John Smith coming in with docs he has, "found" supported by a pdf he has printed off at home.
Unfortunately the DVLA are introducing new systems to save face and depending if you have a big or small fleet, will enjoy a new access system; but rest assured, a professional outfit is never going to trust a proof from someone who wants to drive away with many thousands of pounds of their merchandise.
Just like with TV licence/driving licence/passports, as soon as an online system is introduced to the public, criminals are straight in, creating spoof websites to scam cash from the unwitting.

poppasmurf_bewdley

kwmlondon wrote: »

As it says "You should only use this service to view your own driving licence." That's stated at the top of the first page when you try to access YOUR license information.

Hertz, Europcar, all the rest of them are not allowed to access this page - they will not do it. It's for you and you alone.

What has been set up is a system whereby you go to another page and get a code that will allow the hire company to access your license information. It's a good solution and it will probably work fine, but because your license information needs to be up to date it will only be valid for 72 hours, and it can only be used once.

This should not be a problem, but at the moment it's pretty easy to hire a car in the UK. Show your ID and give them your paper bit to show you're not banned from driving. They take a photocopy, try to sell you an expensive insurance cover and then you get your car.

The system they're putting in place is new and Fujistu may have build a perfectly good solution, but what if it isn't? What if the DVLA have not done their homework, or have cut costs on the servers they have commissioned.

How can you possibly say it's not a good idea to think about potential problems and have a backup plan to sort out problems? Even if that just means making sure your phone is charged and you've printed out a screen-shot of your endorsements page?

Is it so bonkers to suggest phoning the car rental company the day before picking up a car to make sure that you're up to speed on their processes for coping with the move away from a paper-less license? I'm not even telling anyone what WILL happen or tha there will DEFINITELY be a problem, but I'm perplexed about how I'm getting stick for suggesting people check up before going to collect a hire car.

If I'm wrong then no harm done. Nobody loses out. At worst people will be reassured.

If I'm right, if what I've been told is correct, then this could potentially save some people a major headache.

And what if the world ends tomorrow?

I have to say that you seem to be the most negative person I have come across on this forum in a long time. Doom-monger should be your name.

xHannahx

colino wrote: »

Just like with TV licence/driving licence/passports, as soon as an online system is introduced to the public, criminals are straight in, creating spoof websites to scam cash from the unwitting.

The links in the OP being prime examples, I suspect using a premium number they earn from.

Go the gov DVLA site and it has a normal phone number (03) prefix which charges the same as a landline, and counts as a landline number for inclusive packages and a website where the access code can be obtained for free.

Unfortunately as has been evident in this thread some people will fall for the premium number

https://insidedvla.blog.gov.uk/2015/01/08/no-more-counterpart-date-confirmed-for-abolition/

The first service is ‘Share Driving Licence’ which will provide an online alternative for those who currently have a business need to check the information displayed on the driving licence counterpart. Share Driving Licence will be a free, 24/7 service and is currently scheduled to be available in Spring 2015. Take a look at the video below for a demonstration.
The second service is ‘Access to Driver Data’ which will provide real-time driving licence data via a business-to-business interface (or API). Access to this service will be subject to users agreeing contractual terms. Connection and enquiry costs are currently under consideration. The service is currently scheduled to be available in summer 2015.

Hire car firms I suspect will have the second service, which has an enquiry charge to the hire company so expect that to be added to hire costs.

Hubby currently has a van from Europcar he picked up earlier today and was not required to show any licence. Europcar already had his data from his licence number he Inputted online when booking.
Large Hire car companies have always verified online. When someone produces a counterpart there is no evidence they are not using a previously declared " clean lost" counterpart and have points on the replacement.

kwmlondon

colino wrote: »

OK OP, your first post had a link that early on in its misleading script stated, "the paper part of your drivers licence will be completely invalid and will need to be destroyed". I think most readers would then have disregarded the rest as panic raising nonsense. It is untrue, it is an exaggeration, it is a lie.

Is it? I'm only going by what the DVLA say on the .gov website:

"If you already hold a paper counterpart, after 8 June 2015 it will no longer have any legal status. You should destroy your paper counterpart after this date but you still need to keep your current photocard driving licence."

I'm pretty sure that this is a reliable source of information.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-licence-changes