DVLA News
Learner Drivers will now be allowed on Motorways from 2018
From 2018 learner drivers will now be allowed to take driving lessons with an approved driving instructor in a car with dual controls.
At the moment, you can only have driving lessons on motorways after you have passed your driving test. Some newly-qualified drivers take the lessons through the voluntary Pass Plus Scheme.
Allowing learner drivers the opportunity to take lessons on the motorway from 2018 will help make sure more drivers know how to use motorways safely.
How will the change work
The change will apply to England, Scotland and Wales. Learner Drivers will need to be accompanied by an approved driving instructor and the car will need to be fitted with dual controls.
Any Motorway lessons will be voluntary. It will be up to the driving instructor to decide when the learner driver is competent enough to have a motorway lesson. Trainee driving instructors will not be allowed to take learner drivers on the motorway.
The change will only apply to learner drivers of cars, learner motorcyclists will not be allowed to have motorway lessons.
The changes are being made to allow learner drivers to get a broader driving experience before taking their driving test. To get training on how to join and leave the motorway, overtake and use the lanes correctly. To practise their driving at higher speeds and to put their theoretical knowledge into practice.
DVSA will not be giving driving instructors extra training on providing motorway lessons but learning materials and the car driving syllabus will be updated to incorporate motorway lessons.
DVSA will also work with driving instructor associations and Highways England to provide extra guidance and advice for driving instructors.
The exact date for this in 2018 change will be confirmed nearer the time.
The change will be well publicised so driving instructors and learner drivers are prepared for the change, and other road users know what to expect. The Highway Code rules on Motorways will also be updated.
Until the law is changed it is still ILLEGAL for learner drivers to drive on the motorway.
Stay safe and Happy Motoring.
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DVLA – adding missing car marques at last.
The DVLA has caved in to pressure from classic car owners and is starting to add missing car marques on to it’s online database.
If you remember we informed you of this issue back in July 2016 whereby the DVLA website was missing 43 marques on it’s online database.
Research reveals that owners and prospective buyers for previously missing marques such as Alvis, Allard, DeLorean, Crossley and Standard can now finally look up MoT history, tax and insurance data using the DVLA’s online service. And just in time too; as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is urging classic car owners to check MoT details online after admitting that the paper versions are vulnerable to forgery. Most buyers accept paper MoT’s at face value but there are cloned and clocked vehicles so now you can check online so buyers don’t have to be so trusting.
Starting from the beginning of May the online Vehicle Enquiry Service will also be updated so owners will no longer have to look up records.
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC), however confirmed that the changes to registering classics or making changes to the V5C online have not been made yet. Geoff Lancaster FBHVC communications director explains; What you cannot do is enter a model name which does not have a V55/5 code. If you do not include a model name in a registration form, the DVLA may pull the model and make boxes correctly shown in the paper form into the just the make field in the online database. We think we have persuaded them to stop this. The FBHVC’s recommendation to those making new applications for registrations, particularly in respect of older overseas vehicles which are not likely to have relevant codes, is to not complete the ‘model’ portion of the V55/5.
Number Plate News – New Vehicle Tax Rates 1st April 2017
Well there is now less than a month to go until the new system of calculating vehicle tax rates comes into force.
Although most people associate April 1st as being April Fools Day, this is the date that the DVLA introduces the new vehicle tax rates.
This change will not affect everyone as it only applies to brand new cars and some motorhomes that are registered with DVLA on or after 1st April 2017
The rates explained
Vehicle tax for the first year is based on CO2 emissions. After the first year the amount of vehicle tax that needs to be paid depends on the type of vehicle.
£140 a year for petrol or diesel vehicles
£130 a year for alternative fuel vehicles (hybrids, LPG and bioethanol)
£0 a year for vehicles with Zero CO2 emissions
If a vehicle has a list price of more than £40,000 the rate of vehicle tax is based on the CO2’s for the first year.
After the first year the rate depends on the type of vehicle (petrol, diesel, alternative fuel or zero emissions) and an additional rate of £310 a year for the next 5 years.
After those 5 years the vehicle will then be taxed at one of the standard rates of £140, £130, or £0 depending on the vehicle type.
Number Plate News – Using your phone whilst Driving – New Law from 1/3/2017
Today marks the first day of March and it also brings in a new law regarding using your mobile phone.
As from today if you are caught using it whilst behind the wheel you will be fined £200 and given 6 penalty points.
If you are a new driver and have had your licence less than 2 years you could also face an immediate ban.
Previously the fixed penalty fine was £30 but in 2007 the fine was raised to £60. It was raised again to £100 in 2013 and this new legislation see’s the fine increased to £200.
The number of penalty points that you received used to be 3 but this new government legislation has increased it to 6 and as new drivers are only given 6 points for the first 2 years, if they are caught using their mobile phones now behind the wheel they will lose their licence as it will be an instant ban.
Previously in some police force areas, motorists could avoid the points by taking a remedial driving course.
The reason behind this new law is because of the numerous fatalities and incidents caused whilst drivers are distracted while using their mobile phones/devices.
The Department of Transport figures show that there were 492 accidents in Britain in 2014 where a driver was distracted or impaired whilst using their mobile phones. In the past 10 years more than 200 people have been killed by drivers distracted by their phones/devices and the mobile phone was a contributory factor in 43 fatal accidents in 2014 alone.
So when you get in your car, as from today programme the Sat Nav put the phone away, remember the call or text can wait and be done when you have stopped driving and have parked up safely.
Stay safe and keep others safe when you are on the road. Is that call or text really worth it?
DON’T DO IT!
Vehicle Tax Disc – Revenues Plummet
In the 6 months after the vehicle tax disc was scrapped the amount of vehicle tax collected in the UK fell by more than £200m figures have shown.
The paper tax disc that was first issued in 1921 was replaced in October 2014 by the online system in an overhaul that cost £1m and that critics warned would lead to confusion among motorists.
The latest figures obtained by the Financial Times in an Freedom of Information request, show that the DVLA Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency saw an immediate drop in its revenue following the changes, The National Audit Office had claimed there would be no ‘material increase in lost revenue’ as a result.
Between October 2014 and March 2015 some £2.7bn was collected in Vehicle Excise Duty. This was £223m lower than the amount collected between October and March a year earlier. In contrast the £3.2bn collected between April and September 2014 was flat compared to a year earlier.
Figures from the DVLA for the 12 months to March 2016 are expected to be published after the UK’s EU referendum which took place on June 23rd 2016. This will give a full picture of the 12 months following the change, as well as an insight into the period from October 2015 – when motorists did not have the tax disc in their windscreens to remind them of the renewal date.
According to its latest report, the changes cost the DVLA £1m which was mostly spent on IT.
The DVLA uses a debt collection agency, Marston Holdings, to claw back lost payments. According to the company’s most recent accounts, pre-tax profits more than doubled from £5.8m to £13.6m in the 12 months to the end of May 2015. Revenue for the business which also counts the HMRC, Transport for London and local authorities among its clients rose from £58.5m to £84.4m through both acquisitions and organic growth. Income from distress warrant enforcement – when bailiffs are sent to a property – rose from £49.7m to £77.5m. The company did not show how much of its income comes from the DVLA and did not respond to calls or email for comment.
The DfT had estimated that £80m of vehicle tax revenue would be lost in 2015 – much higher than the £30m it had forecast for 2013. Its estimates are drawn from roadside analysis of untaxed vehicles and produced every 2 years. After a survey of 256 sites the department estimated in November 2015 that 1.5% of cars on the road were untaxed. This was s harp increase in the 0.6% figure for 2013, which it said was ‘probably due to major changes to the vehicle licensing system, which took place in October 2014’. As well as abolishing the physical tax disc, a requirement was brought in to tax vehicles when buying them, rather than rolling over to the previous owner’s vehicle tax.
Oliver Morley, DVLA chief executive, said “Almost 99% of all vehicles on the road are correctly taxed: that’s around £6bn in vehicle tax passed to the Treasury every year. We writ to every registered vehicle keeper in the UK to remind them when their tax is due and we have introduced a range of measures to make vehicle tax easy to pay, such as direct debit or online. At the same time we are taking action against those who are determined to break the law.
from the “Financial Times website June”
Personalised Number Plates – Popular than ever!
If its in the press then its got to be right hasn’t it. Personalised and cherished number plates are now more poplular than ever and even rank up there with ‘Fine Wine’ and ‘Rolex Watches’ as a way of investing your money.
The sale of Personalised and Cherished car number plates raised a record £102million for the Treasury and us Britain’s are turning into a nation of show offs and what better way than to invest in a cherished number plate.
Last year saw around 335,000 personalised and cherished number plates sold in the UK and the DVLA brought in £15million more in sales of cherished and personalised number plates compared with the previous year.
The most expensive cherished number plate sold to date in the UK was ’25 O’ which fetched £400,000
Don’t just take my word for it see these stories in the national press
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66 Series Car Number Plates
Well it is only a month until the new car registration numbers the 66 series can be transferred to your new vehicle. Still not bought one or not sure what cherished number plate is best for you.
Why not call our experienced sales staff on 0116 235 0116 where they will be happy to help.
Plenty of cherished and personalised number plates to browse through on our online facility click here