FLEETS and private motorists could soon be relicensing their cars over the Internet, rather than queuing up in a Post Office, if a pilot project by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing is successful. The DVLA has won a grant of £279,000 from the Treasury's 'Invest to Save' budget to develop the idea, which follows the hugely successful EDI fleet relicensing scheme.

The internet project will only be available to vehicles under three years of age (which have no MoT requirement) and which are insured by an insurer which has electronic links to the DVLA. About a dozen insurers have electronic links to the DVLA for the purpose of obtaining registered vehicle keeper information, although only one is expected to participate in the Internet pilot. This will run in tandem with a telephone relicensing trial, covering the same profile vehicles but using a call centre and on-line checking, rather than the Internet, to handle the issue of licence discs. If the idea proves viable it could be made available later this year.