The DVLA has shelved plans to introduce an online licence checking service that would have allowed fleets to check potential drivers’ licences instantly.

Both the industry’s representative bodies – the BVRLA and ACFO – have been severely critical of the decision.

The service was due to be rolled out following a successful trial by seven companies who provide licence checking services to fleets.

However, the trial will end within days with no date for its full introduction.

This means fleets must resort to using the previous DVLA services, which include a telephone check that is almost entirely used by rental companies checking potential customers’ details and an overnight ‘batch’ service, which is more costly and slower than the new service promised to be.

“The current DVLA system is quite unsuitable for the vast majority of business,” said ACFO director Stewart Whyte.

“It is an outrage that this new service is not going ahead.”

According to the BVRLA, 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,” said a spokesman.

The new service would have enabled registered companies to view on-line information from a driver’s licence record using the driver number or other information such as a name, address and date of birth.

The DVLA refused to say anymore other than: “The introduction of the online driver licence check service has been postponed but the Agency continues to operate a range of alternative products for the checking of driver entitlement through telephone, paper and electronic channels.”