The View Driving Licence service went live in May prior to the abolition of the paper licence counterpart on 8 June but the online system struck with issues on the day that the paper licence was actually scrapped. There were also concerns that the three-day time period for checking licence codes was too short.

Now, as of today (10 July) the check code generated for motorists to share their driving licence details will be valid for 21 days.

RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams said: “This is a dramatic U-turn from the DVLA which feels very much like a victory for common sense. Presumably they were inundated with complaints from private motorists and businesses alike about three days being far too short a period to share your licence with a hire car company or an employer.

“The move to three weeks is sensible as it provides sufficient flexibility for people hiring a car in the second or third week of a holiday or business trip.

“The big question is why was the validity of the ‘share your licence’ code fixed at three days in the first place, particularly as the system was brought in on the back of the abolition of the paper counterpart which the DVLA typically far longer to update with new endorsements.”