Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures he has put in place to ensure that people with a UK driving licence who follow Government advice to destroy their paper counterparts will not be denied car rental abroad.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has engaged with the vehicle rental industry about the abolition of the driving licence counterpart for some time. A comprehensive range of publicity materials was developed to help companies and customers to prepare for the change. This material was also provided to Lease Europe, the European equivalent of the British Vehicle and Rental Leasing Association. The publicity material can be seen at www.dvla.dft.gov.uk/dvla-aoc-toolkit.html

Drivers should check with the car hire company they have booked with before they travel about any specific requirements, as the car hire companies themselves have a wide variety of terms and conditions about what information they require. If it is required, drivers can obtain a code which will allow them to share their driving licence details with the car hire company if they wish to do so. The code can be generated online or by telephoning the DVLA. The online service is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Drivers can also print off a copy of their driving licence record.