DVLA changes to affect tens of thousands of drivers from December 24

Changes at the DVLA over Christmas and the New Year have been announced that are set to affect tens of thousands of motorists. The changes at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's contact centre will have an impact on drivers over the festive period.

The contact centre deals with at least 27 million calls every year, according to gov.uk. People ring with queries ranging from help with taxing a vehicle to applying for a driving licence, to transferring a personalised vehicle registration number.

In one day alone in 2016, the organisation spoke to almost 60,000 people. Now for several days, large numbers of drivers are going to have fewer hours to make calls - and on some days will be unable to call at all.

On some days, the service will be shut entirely. On some others, the opening hours will be reduced.

Yet some days will see opening hours remain the same. And the DVLA says customers will be able to use their online services throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

The changes will begin on Tuesday, December 24. The affected period will continue until January 4.

What will be the DVLA contact centre opening hours over Christmas 2024?

Opening hours will be as usual on Monday, December 23. That is 8am to 7pm.

On Christmas Eve, opening hours will be 8am to 12pm. Then, on Christmas Day, the service will be shut.

It will also be closed on Boxing Day before things start up again on Friday, December 27.

On that day, the opening hours will be 8am to 5.30pm. On Saturday, December 28, opening hours will be as normal for that day - 8am to 2pm.

Then the service will be shut on Sunday, December 29. It will be open again on Monday, December 30 from 8am to 5.30pm.

Those hours will be in place on New Year's Eve, December 31. As 2025 begins, the contact centre will be closed, with no opening hours on New Year's Day.

Thursday, January 2 will see normal opening hours from 8am to 7pm. The same will happen on Friday, January 3.

Then there will again be normal opening hours on Saturday, January 4 - 8am to 2pm.