Car hire firm warns customers of licence changes
Affordable Car Hire is advising all customers hiring cars overseas to obtain a unique passcode from the DVLA before picking up rental vehicles this summer.
Without the code, it warns customers might not be able to hire a car after the paper part of the driver’s licence, which shows any penalties, becomes obsolete from next month.
Affordable said it had contacted over 500 of its car hire partners overseas to gauge what customers should do in the light of the DVLA’s announcement that the paper counterpart of the UK driving licence will be abolished.
"The company’s extensive research reveals that earlier press reports stating the change only affects car rental in the UK and Ireland is wrong," said the company. "As a result, Affordable is recommending that agents advise all customers hiring cars overseas to obtain the unique passcode from the DVLA website before collecting the car."
CEO of Affordable Car Hire, Angela Day added: "It is extremely important for us that our trade partners are given the correct advice so our mutual customers can continue to receive an exemplary and problem free service when collecting their vehicles.
"Whilst the majority of our car hire partners have indicated a passcode is not required, some of them have advised that they will be asking UK customers to present the one off passcode on collection.
"Given that the overseas requirements are far from conclusive we strongly recommend that agents advise customers hiring cars overseas to obtain the passcode from the DVLA."
Affordable has set out guidelines for obtaining the passcode on the DVLA website – https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.
The process, which involves inserting the driving licence number, NI number and postcode, can be completed on mobile phones and tablets overseas as well as in the UK.
Once obtained the code lasts 72 hours, so those who are leaving home more than three days before picking up their hire car will have to obtain the code from overseas.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season