MSE News: Warning: You need a DVLA code to hire a car in UK or abroad

hazdriver

agarnett wrote: »

Prompted by this article, for the first time I have used the gov.uk site to check my drivers license.

I am slightly concerned that there are no warnings for those of us who have C1 on our licenses to tell us that since last October I think, we can't use C1 privileges to drive a vehicle over 3500kg for work for example unless we have satisfied the requirements of an EU style Certificate of Competence.

Basically it is just a week in a classroom I think, and then we get wait for it, wait for it! ... not a paper license but a second piece of plastic with our ugly mug on it I think that looks like a driver license photocard.

Can anyone clarify?

To bring my enquiry slightly back to the original topic, I recall once moving myself by hiring a largish Ford Cargo truck from Ryder Truck Rental - can I still do that without paying for a week in the classroom?

To clarify if you have C1 you can drive up to 7490 Kg gross weight for PRIVATE use But best check in case your hire provider make up their own rules & requirements !!

FloridaCarHire.com

We wish to advise all of our clients that have booked their rental through us here in the UK for their Florida holiday that we have negotiated with our suppliers and no code from DVLA will be requested.


Please simply take your standard UK plastic card licence with you. The paper part of the licence will no longer be required.

LeighLad

Crazy. The really annoying thing is that its probably only UK licence holders.

The hire companies wanted the paper part when we went from the old style licence. Many other countries only have a "plastic card licence"; no paper. e.g. I've never seen someone hiring a car with a USA licence being asked for any more information in the UK. If they don't need it for the USA driver, then why do they need it for UK driver?

btw you pass a USA licence on a purpose built track with no traffic (takes about 10 minutes) driving an automatic. You then come to the UK and can drive an automatic or manual hire car on the USA licence. Yet WE still have separate licences.

machiavelli27

I am looking to hire a car in the middle of my holiday. i will have left the uk for over 72hrs, before i look to hire a car. Will i need to access this info in the hotel and hope that they will be happy to print it out?

ferf1223

I agree with all that this is just dumb.

But where are people getting the idea you have to print something? Am I missing it? I read it as you get a code, you give the car hire agency the code if asked for it...nothing about printing.

We mostly travel to the US and I have never been asked for my paper counterpart before, so I don't expect to be asked for the dumb code, but I'll have it just in case.

brewerdave

machiavelli27 wrote: »

I am looking to hire a car in the middle of my holiday. i will have left the uk for over 72hrs, before i look to hire a car. Will i need to access this info in the hotel and hope that they will be happy to print it out?

...I'm off next week and will be in a similar position ......I'm just going to take the "old" paper counterpart...can't believe that Georgios Cars in the middle of nowhere on a Greek island are going to knw how to use a DVLA code anyway !!:rotfl:

azzap

Will I need the DVLA code for a visit to the USA next week? i know in the USA they generally don't require the paper counterpart.

PeacefulWaters

azzap wrote: »

Will I need the DVLA code for a visit to the USA next week? i know in the USA they generally don't require the paper counterpart.

It depends who you hire from.

Avis have told me I don't need it. But I'll get one anyway. Belt and braces.

Boltonlass

I have been sent an email by Economy Car Hire which is specific to my booking in October this year in Madeira. They have informed me that I do not need the code for the booking and simply need to present my photo card driving license on arrival.
I will print off the email and take it with me but I will also take the precaution of noting my national insurance number so if all else fails the code can be obtained.

azzap

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

It depends who you hire from.

Avis have told me I don't need it. But I'll get one anyway. Belt and braces.

In the past I've never been required to bring or provide the paper copy over there with Budget, Alamo and Dollar. I'm hoping therefore the DVLA code won't be required as it related to the paper portion for the most part (if that makes sense).