17 February 2014
Fleets to save millions of pounds as Government slashes red tape
Fleets and leasing companies are expected to save an estimated £6.5 million collectively – with motorists saving around £54 million – thanks to the Government's plans to slash red tape.
The Government’s commitment to cutting unnecessary rules and regulations, as a result of establishing the Red Tape Challenge in 2011, is expected to have the following outcomes:- By 2015, fleets will be able to request electronic vehicle registration documents when they need them, removing the administrative burden of storing paper copies of the V5C, saving an estimated £3 million per year and affecting more than two million fleet vehicles.
- A further saving of at least £3.5 million as a result of the decision to abolish the paper tax disc by October 2014.
- Finally, the DVLA has promised to abolish the paper counterpart of the driving licence during 2014/15. Fleets will, says the DVLA, be able to check employees’ driving licences through an online service, but details of how that will work, when it will be launched and whether it will be a free or paid for service are still being discussed.
Meanwhile, the measures announced by the Department of Transport will deliver further savings totalling £54 million include:
- As 36 million vehicles will no longer need a paper tax disc, businesses and taxpayers will save around £14m each year
- As 33 million drivers will no longer need a paper counterpart to their driving licence, they will save an estimated £8 million each year
- More than 17 million address and vehicle details will be able to be changed online
- 6 million people will not need to return an insurance certificate if a policy is cancelled mid-term, saving businesses £29m each year
- A guide for professional drivers will be developed to increase clarity and understanding on drivers’ hours and working time rules, particularly about when a driver needs to take a break.
- The frequency with which digital drivers’ hours records must be downloaded from tachographs will be relaxed, a change which benefits drivers on long international tours.
Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said: “Taxpayers have a right to expect Government services to be convenient and uncomplicated. The work we have carried out to remove unnecessary paperwork has reaped real benefits for motorists and businesses.
“Some of these changes might seem very straightforward but they are helping to make life easier for millions of people. Our work will not stop there and we will continue to look for ways of slashing unnecessary bureaucracy across the transport network and ensuring Government services are customer-friendly.”
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has welcomed the measures and, like ACFO (Association of Car Fleet Operators), it continues to collaborate with the DVLA to ensure it delivers a workable alternative following the abolition of the paper counterpart of the driving licence.
BVRLA legal and policy director Jay Parmar said: “Being able to request the V5C on demand from the DVLA will reduce costs on fleets who currently have to store and retrieve millions of documents each year.
“Notifying the DVLA electronically of a change of keeper will remove a huge administrative burden for our members as well. However, the industry needs an online replacement for the driving licence paper counterpart that is cost-effective and provides real-time, 24/7 access.”
ACFO director John Pryor added: “The Government has made it clear that the paper counterpart of the driving licence is to be abolished – that is something that ACFO welcomes. But ACFO must be assured that, prior to abolition, a robust service is in place that enables all fleets to undertake thorough driving licence checks.
“There are many outstanding questions that require answers. The Government has said that the paper counterpart of the driving licence will be removed in 2014/15. That means there is a maximum of 14 months for the online service to be operational. We look forward to further discussions with the DVLA.”