As part of the recent ‘Transforming DVLA Services’ consultation the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) has met with the DVLA in a high level show of support for the Government department in its quest for change.

The VRA, which has over 60 members who between them handle, sell, inspect, transport or manage more than two million used vehicles annually, is working with the DVLA to help it modernise and simplify its processes as it looks to reduce annual operating costs by £100m.

“The majority of our members rely on the DVLA in some way or other in the successful day-to-day running of their businesses,” explained John Davies, chairman of the VRA.

“The initial meeting between both parties was very open and productive and we are now aware of the scale and nature of changes that the DVLA is considering.

“Our members have pledged to work with the DVLA to help redesign and develop its processes and systems to ensure they support the future needs of the remarketing industry and its customers.”

Topics of conversation during the recent meeting included overhauling the current transfer system, relicensing, the printing of tax discs for new cars by dealers, the entire V5 process surrounding the sale of a vehicle and the swift replacement of lost V5s.

The DVLA also discussed proposals to realign the Northern Ireland vehicle licensing services with existing GB services and it talked about how enhanced processes will be used to modernize DVLA operations and continue to support the motor industry in the event of the closure of DVLA regional offices.

An immediate benefit of the Northern Ireland changes was identified by a major rental company and VRA member who currently registers vehicles in England, ships them to Ireland and then ships them back and are sold back on the mainland at the end of their life.

In the future the rental company could register vehicles in Northern Ireland and dispose of them in the used market, since the information would be stored in a single system saving valuable time and money.

“The DVLA has recognised how our members can support the transformation of services at a detailed level,” said Davies.

“The DVLA has given us a place on its Motor Industry Liasion Group which has been taken up by VRA member Guy Pearce who heads up VRA’s provenance working group.

“He will be our eyes and ears on the group and will call upon VRA members as and when needed to further support the DVLA. We are confident that the remarketing industry will see major benefits out of the partnership.”

Hugh Evans, the DVLA’s corporate affairs director responsible for maintaining relationships with stakeholders and partners, said: “We were very pleased to be able to talk to the VRA and its members and we have a huge opportunity to make changes in line with the industry’s current and future requirements.”

David Evans is the DVLA’s transformation director responsible for the alignment and co-ordination of change to achieve the Agency’s strategic direction by 2022.

DVLA’s current proposal for change

2012-2013
Enhanced Front Office Counter licensing transactions
Removing the Insurance check at the point of relicensing
Centralised Printing of Tax Discs at First Registration

2013-2014
Northern Ireland Technical Integration, creating harmonised UK-wide services
Online Personalised Registration transactions
Fleet Licensing enhancements
V5C On-demand for Fleet owners

2014-2015
Abolition of the Driver Counterpart
Driver Licence Checking
Removal of the address from Driver Card
 

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