3 June 2015

Hiring a car? You need to know about the DVLA ‘Share your Licence’ service.

Renting a car after the 8th June 2015? Now there is more you need to do before you get to the car hire desk. Don’t risk being turned away by your rental firm.

From the 8th June 2015 the paper counterpart of your driving licence will no longer be valid. Any endorsements or fines you have received will only be held electronically by the DVLA. The same applies to which vehicles you are entitled to drive. Some car hire companies need proof that you hold a clean licence. To do this you will now need to use the DVLA’s ‘Share your licence’ service.

This free service allows you to either print out a copy of your driving licence summary or get a passcode so that your car hire company can do it themselves. To do this you will need your:

• National Insurance number
• Driving licence number
• Postcode.

As the passcode is only valid for 72 hours do it just before you leave for your holiday.

Update from 10th July the code is now valid for 3 weeks

Remember to take the code with you. Not hiring a car as soon as you reach your destination? Take the above details with you and find an internet point. Hertz say that they will accept a print out if the ‘Date generated’ on the licence summary is less than 30 days before your rental pick-up.

Another option is to give permission to the DVLA to discuss your records with the car hire company but this service has its drawbacks. Not only will you have to remember to phone the DVLA before you travel but time differences and language may play a part.

Advice from car hire companies is varied. Auto Europe recommends using the ‘Share Driving Licence’ scheme. Avis need to see your photocard licence but may require customers to allow them to view their records. Economy Car Hire do not believe there will be any problems but the last thing you want when you arrive at an airport with your family after a long flight is to face complications when picking up your hire car. With this in mind, it may be better to play it safe and cover all options. Take a print out of your driving licence summary with you, generate a passcode for the car hire company and don’t forget your photocard driving licence.

If you need to check the details of any car hire company featured on the MoneyMaxim website click through to your chosen supplier and look at the driving licence section of the rental terms and conditions.

Image courtesy of: Graeme Weatherspoon at freedigitalphotos.net