DVLA
Latest
The new UK driving test will use a sat nav
Over the years, the standard UK driving test hasn't changed all that much. Since 1996, learners have had to prove their road-worthiness by completing a set of multiple-choice questions and demonstrating decent hazard perception, but it's always been about proving you're a safe driver. In its biggest shake-up since the introduction of the theory test, the government will require new drivers to demonstrate their ability to navigate using a satellite navigation (sat nav) device in the hope it will promote safety, boost confidence and widen potential areas used for practical tests.
DVLA extends licence code lifespan to help Brits hire cars abroad
It's not often that a government department takes on feedback and quickly makes a change to its processes, but fair play to the DVLA, it's just done exactly that. After the agency phased out paper driving licences and asked British holidaymakers to present online codes to car hire companies instead, travellers complained that the allocated three-day window was too small. It's only been a month, but the DVLA has revised its ruling and expanded the window to three weeks.
How to hire a car without your UK paper driving licence
As of today, driving licences have gone digital. Don't go throwing away your photocard, though, as that's still vital proof you're allowed to get behind the wheel, but your paper counterpart is now all but useless. The easily misplaced document was introduced alongside the photocard licence for recording additional info like the type of vehicles you're allowed to drive and how many naughty points you've racked up. But for anyone in the UK outside of Northern Ireland, these details are now held and easily accessible online. And it's actually pretty convenient, since you no longer need to dig through kitchen drawers to find it or pay for a replacement if you can't. If you need to share your driving history with anyone -- a new employer, for example -- you can jump online and request a one-use "licence check code" a third party can securely retrieve your info with.
UK government swaps paper car tax discs for its vast camera network
The paper car tax disc has had a very good innings, but it's finally come to the end of its life. Presented proudly by UK motorists for more than 90 years, those circular bits of paper have today officially been replaced by an electronic register. What does that mean for you? Well, you'll still need to pay for your tax the same way each year, but you'll no longer need to fix the disc to your windscreen, even if it's still yet to expire. Authorities can't now physically check you've paid, instead they'll fully rely on the hundreds of thousands of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras that adorn Britain's roads. Considering replacement tax discs (well, forgetting to renew them) cost British motorists more than £7 million a year, some might be glad to see them gone. However, the government now allows you to pay by direct debit and "velologists" (tax disc collectors) might pay a pretty penny to get their hands on one of the last ever discs, as long as you've kept it in top notch condition.
