BVRLA urges Government action on new quarantine rules

The BVRLA has written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to highlight the potentially devastating impact on inbound tourism that will be caused by the new quarantine rules that take effect from 8 June.

In the letter BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney urges the Government to introduce some immediate measures to mitigate the impact that the new rules will have on tourism and the car rental sector. He asks the Government to:

  • As soon as possible, designate countries as ‘safe’ where COVID-19 infection levels are low enough, so that arrivals from these countries are exempt from the quarantine. Priority should be given to key trading partners and the countries that generate the greatest number of inbound travellers.
  • For countries where the quarantine is being applied, explore ways in which inbound travellers can pre-qualify for a quarantine exemption (for example, by producing a recognised antibody test result).
  • The Government has committed to reviewing the scheme every three weeks. This should be reviewed more frequently given the peak Summer tourist season is fast approaching and the number and scale of Covid-19 cases is constantly evolving.

“Our members operate at every major UK airport and car rental plays a pivotal role in helping people travel to, from and within their destination,” said Keaney.

“The Transport Secretary’s advice is that people have a ‘civic duty’ not to use public transport - this means that car rental will be an absolutely essential partner for the UK tourism industry as it recovers.”

Update on Driver CPC and Tachograph rules

The Department for Transport (DfT) has updated some of the Covid-19 related rules and exemptions surrounding Driver CPC testing and tachographs.

  • Driver Qualification Card (DQC) validity - The validity of DQCs that expire between 1 February 2020 and 31 August 2020 has been extended for seven months. Full details are on the DfT website.
  • Tachograph Calibration and inspections due before 31 August 2020 - All tachograph calibration and inspection certificates which are listed as expiring between 1 March 2020 to 31 August 2020, are extended by six months from the date the calibration was originally due. All tachograph calibration certificates expiring from 1 September 2020 must be renewed as usual.
  • Tachograph card renewal - From 1 March 2020 to 31 August 2020, drivers who apply to renew their tachograph card no later than 15 days before their card is due to expire, can continue to drive until they receive a new card. Full details are on the DfT website.

The BVRLA website is updated daily with Covid-19 Business advice and information

As well as receiving these Covid-19 Bulletin emails, members are also reminded that the BVRLA website contains a dedicated Covid-19 Business Advice section hosting all the latest information as well as the previous Covid-19 Bulletins that have been issued since they launched on 17 March.

If you have a colleague who would also like to receive the BVRLA Covid-19 Bulletin, they should email BVRLA Communications Manager Andrea Davies at andrea@bvrla.co.uk