Town’s Post Office set to lose DVLA services

WESTBURY residents will soon lose the ability to tax their cars and apply for driving licences through the Post Office.  

It means motorists will be forced to renew their driving licences and pay vehicle tax online. 

From March 31 next year, all DVLA services will be removed from the Post Office network in the UK following a government ruling, a move which the Post Office says will hit vulnerable and digitally excluded customers.  

Services that will no longer be available at Westbury Post Office (found at The Ham) include taxing your vehicle and applying for a provisional driving licence. 

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) is campaigning for the decision to be reversed and has handed a petition into the Downing Street calling on the government to keep the services.  

“Currently, the Post Office handles over 6 million DVLA transactions annually,” says the NFSP. “Removing yet further face-to-face transactions will have an extremely negative impact on vulnerable and digitally excluded customers whilst also jeopardising the livelihood of 50,000 full-time equivalent employees who work in the post offices around the UK. 

Losing this over-the-counter service is also another nail in the coffin for cash. 

“The decision raises significant concerns about the commitment of the government towards the PO and its network.” 

A spokesperson for the Post Office said, “We know that the trading environment is incredibly tough for many Postmasters. We are committed to finding ways to support Postmasters so they can continue to provide important services for local communities through the wide range of services that we offer and continue to expand. We continue to engage with the DVLA to further understand their plans for their products and services post March 2024.”