Road users deserve better DVLA services

The cash-strapped DVLA needs a more reliable source of funding so that it can provide businesses with the modern, electronic services it has promised.

A dramatic fall in new vehicle registrations has cost the agency £50m and it is expected to make £25m in cost savings this year, on top of £100m already saved since 2004. While the BVRLA is in favour of efficient government services, the relentless impact of these cuts on DVLA budgets mean the agency is now unable to deliver projects that could slash red tape and deliver huge cost savings.

The most recent victim is an online system for checking driving licence information, which was already being trialled by businesses across the UK. Due for delivery in 2010, it has now been abandoned.

More than a million of these checks are made each year via phone, mail or fax. They are made by rental companies, insurance firms and employers looking to check driving licence information - whether a driver is banned from driving, for example. The ability to check this information is essential when customers or employees cannot provide the paper counterpart with their photo card driving licence – one in four rental customers are unable to produce a counterpart.

The current DVLA system is only available during office hours and in most cases only gives verbal confirmation of driver entitlement. Introducing an online system would have given immediate, secure, 24/7 access to the details, including the photograph and signature. Aside from the benefits to industry, the BVRLA estimates that it could have saved the DVLA up to £5.5m each year.

“This is the third important project that our members have seen cancelled. Considering the tax burden that all road users face, they deserve better,” said BVRLA chief executive, John Lewis.

“The ability to check driving licence information swiftly, securely and accurately is essential if we want to improve levels of road safety in this country.

“DVLA income is far too reliant on first registration fee income and the Department for Transport needs to give it a more reliable source of funding. It is crazy that cost restraints are forcing the agency to cancel projects that would improve efficiency and save millions for both itself and its customers.”