From this summer it's going to become a bit more complicated to hire a car abroad

The phasing out of paper driving licences will require motorists to download an online key

Route 66, a popular driving destination for tourists (Chuck Coker)

A move to scrap the paper section of British driving licenses could make it more difficult to hire a car abroad, an industry figure has warned.

The DVLA has previously announced the licenses’ paper counterpart will be phased out from June this year in order to simplify the system.

When the new changes come into force anyone going abroad and hiring a car will have to log onto the DVLA website and obtain a special code, which they can then give to their car hire company on arrival.

The changes will come into force from June 8.

Mark Bower, of the car hire insurance website MoneyMaxim told the Daily Mail newspaper that the implementation was “muddled” and that there could be initial problems.

“I spoke to one big car hire firm in Portugal this week and they knew nothing of the changes. Six weeks away from implementation, the whole thing is very muddled,” he said.

“It is another thing you have to remember to do just before departure. Or you can do it at the desk with your smartphone if you can remember the website address, don’t mind the data roaming charges, can remember your national insurance number and are impervious to the long queue developing behind you.”

The passcode will only be valid for 72 hours meaning travellers will have to find internet access abroad if they wish to hire a car in the second week of their visit.

“The reason for abolishing the counterpart is to reduce the burden on motorists,” a DVLA spokesperson explained at the time.