HomePersonalised Number PlatesConfirmed Dates for DVLA office closures Jayne Henry October 28, 2012 Personalised Number Plates, Recent Number Plate News The DVLA has confirmed plans to close all its offices. Once the DVLA offices have shut as part of Government policy to streamline DVLA operations, all DVLA issues will be dealt with online or at a Post Office. The aim, said the DVLA, is to improve all the services it offers: “We are absolutely committed to delivering the best service we can. Our continued movement towards digital transactions, and the greater use of other organisations to deliver services on our behalf, will make it easier for motorists to deal with us in a way that suits them and also reduce the significant burdens on the motor industry and other stakeholders. “Central to our plans is the continued channel shift to digital services, either directly or through the use of intermediaries, of those transactions and services that are currently only available through a face-to-face channel. We will provide a greater choice of services to the motor industry which will mean that they can take the administrative burden currently associated with reams of paperwork away from motorists when buying and selling vehicles.” The DVLA is putting in place a raft of alternative ways to do business so that after the closures – as detailed below – business can carry on as normal: Automated First Registration and Licensing; As tax discs will be posted from Swansea and not held at dealerships, there will be less need for indemnity cover. New lower volume motorcycle dealers will be able to join the system without: • Indemnity cover; If their turnover in transactions with the DVLA is less than £20,000 they will be able to set up a Direct Debit, with money collected every Friday and the DVLA waiving their £104 sign up fee. • Cherished Transfers; It is planned to move these to an online system but it maybe that this online function cannot be delivered in one single transaction. This may mean putting the cherished number on retention one day and transferring it online to the new car the following day. • Tax without V5C; This will be done from Post Offices • Replacement Tax Discs; This will be possible at the 400 Crown Post Offices • Trade Plates; Plates and licences will be dispatched direct from Swansea. New applications will not require premises visits or interviews. • DVLA vehicle/bike Inspections; VOSA will select around 2,000 of its best performing MOT test stations, geographically spread to carry out physical vehicle or bike checks. Proposed closure plan. This plan is subject to change. Staffing levels will be kept under review throughout the transformation period and the viability of each office will be reviewed on a regular basis. Proposed date for office closures: March 2013: Area Enforcement Centres October 31st 2013: Aberdeen, Bournemouth Brighton Carlisle Chelmsford Edinburgh Ipswich Lincoln Norwich Oxford Sheffield Shrewsbury Stockton Swansea November 30th 2013: Bangor Beverly Chester Dundee Exeter Inverness Maidstone Peterborough Sidcup Truro Theale Worcester December 31st 2013: Birmingham Borehamwood Bristol Cardiff Glasgow Leeds Manchester Newcastle Northampton Nottingham Portsmouth Preston Wimbledon
