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No more counterpart – UK driving licence changes
The paper part of a driving licence was introduced in 1998 as a way to display information that couldn’t fit on the photocard, such as penalty points. The DVLA announced that from the 8th June the paper counterpart will no longer be treated as a legal document.
However, this doesn’t mean that employers can’t find out if you have any penalty points! As well as you being able to check your details efficiently and for free, the new online service will allow you to generate a code which you can give to your employer if they need to check which vehicles you are licensed to drive and if you have any penalty points or disqualifications. You can view the details on your licence here
https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and make enquiries by phone too on 0300 790 6801.
If your paper licence was issued to you before the photocard was introduced in 1998 then it will remain valid so don’t destroy it, keep it safe! And these changes don’t apply at the moment in Northern Ireland, where the counterpart is still used. Find out more about the new system by visiting www.gov.uk/dvla/nomorecounterpart