The DVLA has extended the validity of the 'check driving licence' access code from 72 hours to 21 days.
To share their details motorists must generate a code from the DVLA website, which can then be redeemed just once by the third party.
From today (July 10 2015) the check code generated for motorists to share their driving licence details will be valid for 21 days.
"We're pleased that the DVLA has listened to industry feedback that the code lifespan was too short,” said Gerry Keaney, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.
“This common sense approach will reduce queues at rental desks and give millions of renters more time to plan and arrive prepared ahead of their journey.”
Although it has welcomed the extended code lifespan, the BVRLA is still calling on the DVLA to make other changes that would benefit consumers:
“We think that the DVLA should extend the opening hours of its call centre, because not all renters have access to the internet,” said Keaney.
“The agency should also waive the cost of the premium line telephone service that is used to check endorsements when motorists turn up without a code.
“Finally, we think that the DVLA can make it easier for people to access the View Driving Licence website by being more flexible on the ID required. For example, most travellers would find it easier to provide a passport number than a National Insurance number.”
RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams said: “This is a dramatic U-turn from the DVLA which feels very much like a victory for common sense. Presumably they were inundated with complaints from private motorists and businesses alike about three days being far too short a period to share your licence with a hire car company or an employer.
“The move to three weeks is sensible as it provides sufficient flexibility for people hiring a car in the second or third week of a holiday or business trip.
“The big question is why was the validity of the ‘share your licence’ code fixed at three days in the first place, particularly as the system was brought in on the back of the abolition of the paper counterpart which the DVLA typically far longer to update with new endorsements.”
Matthew Chase - 10/07/2015 12:08
Thank goodness for that. 72 Hours was rather unrealistic in a corporate enviroment when driver applications need to be processed in batches periodically. We were accepting a PDF of the Driver Summary page as a work around to the short time limit.