AN online service has been working intermittently on the day it replaces the paper licence counterpart as the source of driving records including penalty points.
As of today, drivers and riders are advised to destroy their paper counterparts by the DVLA. To prove their driving record to employers or hire firms they must now access the online service and print the details.
But attempts to open the web page have been resulting in an error page.
A spokesman for the DVLA said he was looking into the matter.
For more details on the changes, see the story we did earlier today.
A NEW DVLA website has crashed on the day it replaces the paper licence counterpart as the source of driving records including penalty points.
As of today, drivers and riders are advised to destroy their paper counterparts by the DVLA. To prove their driving record to employers or hire firms they must now access the online service and print the details.
A DVLA 'View your driving licence' page says: 'This service replaces the paper counterpart of your licence from 8 June 2015. You should use your paper counterpart until then.'
But clicking on the 'View now' link has been intermittently leading to the error pages shown in our pictures.
When the page has opened successfully, attempts to search for driver records have led to the message: 'It has not been possible to display/match your driving licence. For further information regarding your driving licence details contact DVLA by telephone.'
A DVLA spokesman acknowledged some people had experienced difficulties accessing the site. He said the problems were due to high demand on the day paper counterparts are scrapped.
‘There’s been loads of coverage today and obviously that’s led to some high demand,' he said. 'We’re aware of this and we’re trying to sort that out. It’s not down as such, just high demand on the first day. Some people have been taking longer to access the site than others.
‘It’s as expected given the widespread coverage today and we’re basically sorting that out.’
The problems were highlighted by a reader who commented on our story on the changes earlier today. The reader wrote: 'Doesn't work, can't find me, no surprise there. Just last week car rental company were insisting they still needed paper counterpart - I wouldn't go tearing it up just yet folks...'
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