Driving Licence Changes 2015
Published Date: 31st Mar 2015
Here are the updates and advice to motorists on abolition of the counterpart to the photocard driving licence.
From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be available from the DVLA. The counterpart was introduced to display driving licence details that could not be included on the photocard. These details include some vehicle categories you are entitled to drive and any endorsement/penalty points.
Please note, this does not affect photocard licences in Northern Ireland.
Existing paper counterparts
And if you already have a paper counterpart, after 8 June 2015 it will be rendered useless. You are advised to destroy your paper counterpart after this date but you still need to keep the photo card driving licence.
Paper Driving Licences
Paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 will remain valid and should not be destroyed.
If you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.
How do I check my driving licence details?
Our free View Driving Licence service lets you see what details are on your licence, including what vehicles you can drive and any penalty points you may have.
How to confirm your driving record to an employer or hiring a vehicle
After 8 June 2015 if you are hiring a vehicle or you drive for a living and you are asked to provide evidence of your driving record (entitlements and/or penalty points), you will be able to do this online for free by accessing our Share Driving Licence service. This service is currently in development but will be available before the counterpart is abolished. The service should be used by both paper and photocard driving licence holders and will also allow you to download a summary of your licence record which can be printed or shared.
Hiring a vehicle: how to prove your driving record after the 8th June 2015
Driving for a living: how to prove your driving record after the 8th June 2015