Car hire firms scramble to avoid summer chaos

Car rental firms admit they don’t know yet exactly how they will check customers’ driving licences when the DVLA abolishes the paper counterpart in just six weeks’ time, leading to predictions of chaos when holidaymakers arrive to collect hire cars this summer.

A spokesman for the car rental association BRVLA said many companies were still finalising their plans for the UK and abroad.

"The DVLA has set an ambitious deadline of 8 June for abolishing the driving licence paper counterpart and car rental companies are still testing the agency’s new free online service for checking driver records, which hasn’t yet gone live," he said.

"Due to the short notice provided by the DVLA and the need to thoroughly test the new system, many car rental companies are still finalising their plans for the UK and abroad."

From June 8, the paper counterpart of the UK driver’s licence, which accompanies the plastic photocard and holds details of any driving offences, will be abolished. Those already issued will be invalid.

So, if car hire firms want to check if a customer has any driving convictions, they will have to check DVLA’s database either online or by phone.

The DVLA has suggested customers will be able to log on to a new ‘Share Your Licence’ site before leaving home to receive a unique code to present to their car hire firm when the arrive to pick up their car. The car rental firm will then be able to use the code to access a driver’s record from the DVLA website.

However, the code will be valid for only 72 hours, so those leaving home more than three days before they are due to collect their car will have to find a way to access to DVLA site from abroad.

Customers will be able to print out a copy of their driving record, however there are concerns that car rental outlets abroad won’t be familiar with the new rules, first announced last year, and so won’t accept the printouts.

When contacted by TravelMole this week, the BVRLA was unable to clarify what car hire customers should do.

"Rental companies have a number of options when it comes to accessing driver details and they know best what works for them and their customers," he said.

"We are confident that BVRLA members will have a solution in place by the 8 June deadline and that this will be communicated to hirers."

There are also concerns that many customers won’t realise their paper documents are no longer valid, or that smaller car rental firms overseas might not realise the system has changed in the UK.

For the time being, customers are probably best advised to contact the DVLA for a code, print out a copy of their driver’s record, and take their paper documents too, even when they become obsolete from June 8.

A spokeswoman for Avis Budget said: "Avis Budget is currently working with the BVRLA and DVLA to find a solution that will allow our customers to have their licence checked with minimal disruption to their car rental experience.

"Avis and Budget customers will be able to access the DVLA’s ‘share my licence’ to obtain a ‘one-time passcode’ to present at the time of rental; this code will provide Avis or Budget with temporary access to the relevant driver information.

"As always, Avis will still expect all UK customers to have a valid driver’s licence their possession, whether renting in the UK or internationally."

Europcar said:  "Europcar understands the discussions between the DVLA and BVRLA have just concluded and therefore, it will be reviewing all the options to ensure that its customers can enjoy the same fast and easy service, whether they are hiring a vehicle overseas or in the UK.  Europcar will also make sure all its customers are kept fully informed during the run-up to the change."