From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by 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. 

If you already hold a paper counterpart, after 8 June 2015 it will no longer have any legal status. You should destroy your paper counterpart after this date but you still need to keep your current photocard driving licence.

What this means for you

You do not need to take any action, just keep your current photocard driving licence.

If you have an old style paper driving licence issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998, this change won’t affect you, and you should keep your licence.

The next time you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.


Entitlements, penalty points and the status of your driving licence won’t change.

What to do with your paper counterpartWhen DVLA stops issuing the counterpart of the driving licence, those drivers who already have a counterpart may destroy it.

You’ll still be able to use the counterpart driving licence to change your address with DVLA. You can also change your address online.

Book Your Driving Test online

Organisations and businesses that check the driving licence counterpartDVLA is developing a new digital enquiry service for launch later this year that will allow organisations and businesses (such as employers and car hire companies) to view information they can currently see on the driving licence counterpart. 

This new service will be offered in addition to the existing services, but is designed for those who have a business need for real-time access to the information and may not wish to call DVLA or be in a position to use an intermediary.

Driving licence information via this service will only be made available to those who have a right to see it, and with the knowledge of the driving licence holder.

NewsletterStakeholders and commercial customers can find further information about the abolition of the counterpart in our newsletters.

Book Theory & Practical Driving Test Now >

Some driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Service union took strike action on Wednesday 15 October 2014. Around 85% of driving tests went ahead as planned.

You won’t have to contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to rebook if you couldn’t take your test because of the strike action. You should hear from the agency with a new test date within 5 to 10 working days.




You can change the new test date if it doesn’t suit you.

Out of pocket expensesYou can claim out of pocket expenses if your test was cancelled, but you must have turned up for your test to be able to do this. If you didn’t turn up, you’ll have to rebook your own test and won’t be able to claim expenses. 

Find out how to claim out-of-pocket expenses


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