As of today, 8th June 2015, the paper counterpart for driving licenses is no longer valid or issued.
It is said to provide an efficient system including the way in which alterations are carried out.
Details once kept on the paper counterpart can now be changed and viewed on-line, for example: the vehicle category the driver is entitled to, the license holder’s address, information on penalty points or possible endorsements and the expiry of the document.
The Driver and Vehicle Licenses Agency (DVLA) website becomes the font of knowledge to past paper details that were once easily lost. The DVLA has launched its online ‘View Driving Record’ service (https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence) In which motorists can monitor their person data, they’ll need to enter their NI-number, Driving Licence number and postcode.
This new system described by the DVLA chief Executive Oliver Morley, should be straightforward to all using it, as he describes it to be ‘very easy to view and share your driving record’ which may be to employers or car hire companies.
In addition the hope of cutting down fraud is involved as insurance companies will be able to check drivers’ licenses themselves enabling the prevention of false statements.
According to an article by Autoexpress the counterpart removal will save an estimated £8 million as it is a part of an abolition policy by Government motoring agencies.