Fleet News and ACFO, the national body for fleet decision-makers, will be hosting a debate at this year’s Fleet News Company Car in Action event to provide some much-needed clarity around changes planned by the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency (DVLA).

An executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT), the DVLA is responsible for a whole host of services from the issuing of licences to the collection of vehicle excise duty (VED).

However, it is undergoing the biggest reorganisation in its 40-year history, with the closure of 39 regional offices, a range of services being provided online for the first time and the abolition of the tax disc.

The Government has also announced that as part of its Red Tape Challenge to cut bureaucracy, the regulation requiring drivers with a credit card-sized photo driving licence to hold a paper counterpart will be removed.

The paper counterpart of the driving licence is expected to be scrapped from January 1, 2015, with a new online database instead being made available to check driver licence details.

Fleet News editor-in-chief Stephen Briers said: “Many of the changes will have a significant impact on how organisations manage their vehicles and their drivers.

“The DVLA debate aims to give fleets some much-needed clarity on this issue and is yet another reason to attend this year’s Company Car In Action event.”

Representatives from the DVLA are expected to be on hand to give attendees an overview of how its services are changing and how they will be delivered in the future.

There will also be a question and answer session giving fleet professionals the opportunity to find out for themselves how the changes will affect their own particular business.

ACFO chairman Damian James said: “Whether it’s the abolition of the tax disc or the removal of the paper counterpart, it’s imperative that fleet operators understand how the changes planned to DVLA services will affect them and their drivers, and how they need to prepare.

“This debate provides an excellent opportunity for any organisation that manages a fleet of vehicles to hear direct from the DVLA what’s being planned and what they need to do to ensure they’re compliant and they continue to meet their duty of care obligations.”

As the national body for fleet decision-makers, ACFO has been involved with the DVLA’s Industry Liaison Group in helping to shape future service provision.

And, it’s played a vital role in ensuring fleets attending this year’s Company Car In Action event will have access to the very latest information on the DVLA.

The DVLA debate, hosted by Fleet News and ACFO, will take place from 2pm on Tuesday, June 10, at Millbrook Proving Ground, in Bedfordshire.

It is one of two debates being held at this year’s Company Car in Action, with the Grey Fleet debate being held on day two, June 11, from 2.15pm.

To register for your free place, or for further information, contact Kate Howard on kate.howard@bauermedia.co.uk or 01733 468146.

 

More articles on: