Britons urged to make use of new DVLA online services to 'easily' check driving licence changes

The service can be used to view their driving record, like seeing vehicles they can drive, as well as checking their penalty points or disqualifications.

Motorists can also create a licence "check code" to share their driving record with someone, like a car hire company.

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The check code will be valid for 21 days, although the Government warns that it is a criminal offence to obtain someone else's personal information without their permission.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) advised drivers that they can now log into their "Driver and vehicle" account to create a check code.

This will allow them to share their driving licence information with car insurance companies, car hire companies or if they drive a vehicle as part of their employment.

The organisation added: "Account holders can quickly and easily sign into their account using their email and password, without the need to input their personal information or verify their identity again - as all their information is already in their account."

Before they start, motorists will need their driving licence number, National Insurance number and the postcode on their driving licence.

The DVLA has been making changes in recent months to improve its offering of online services to help motorists.

Most recently, the DVLA digital service update now allows motorists to tax their vehicles without the log book and tax reminder letter.

Motorists applying for a duplicate V5C logbook can now tax their vehicle without needing to wait for the V5C to arrive.

Customers previously had to wait up to five days for the replacement V5C to arrive if they lost their documents. They could have also phoned the DVLA's Contact Centre to tax their vehicle.

The DVLA announced that this was the first time it had linked its online registration service with the online licensing service.

Commenting on the decision, Julie Lennard, chief executive of the DVLA, said: "We are always looking for ways to improve our digital services to provide more convenience for motorists.

"This latest enhancement will enable customers who have misplaced or lost their V5C to get a replacement and tax their vehicle quickly and easily."

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The DVLA online services allow motorists to tax their vehicle, replace a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed driving licence, check if a vehicle is taxed, tell the DVLA they've sold, transferred or bought a vehicle and renew their licence.