The rot set in about 5 years ago when the DVLA stopped issuing the the plastic wallets that held the paper counterpart, probably to save money at the time. Inevitably therefore, the card and the paper part became separated.
I have still got my official issue plastic wallet and it seems perfectly sensible to have the two together.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
We all thought the dinosaurs had been wiped-out, but. it appears that at least one of 'em survived and is posting here on CBF. 
And lots of fossils and ostriches too! I never did read the final page of my dinosaur book. I was frightened that something bad was going to happen!
For those with a short memory span, here is a list of failed UK IT projects:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_failed_and_overbudget_custom_software_projectsYou can of course, ignore the items that relate to the USA, but my rough estimation is that there has been £40 billion (yes billion) literally wasted and just flushed away because of incompetence.
Not included in the above list is:-
The eBoarders Programme (2007 -2013). I don't know the final cost of that failure, but compensation payments and government legal costs amounted to £259 million.
The BBC Digital Media Initiative (2008 - 2013). Approx cost £100 million;
Ministry of Justice Back Office Functions Project (2014) Approx cost £56 million.
And now- the biggest Daddy of them all is about to be unleashed on the unsuspecting British public (cue roll of drums and dim the lights). It is The Smart Meter Programme. The estimated cost is £11 billion, but you can bet your bottom dollar it will be significantly more. Many experts question the need and cost of such a system. That is of course, if it ever actually works.
Given the above, you can hopefully see why I am highly skeptical of this new IT system and the enormous costs yet again being wasted for something that simply does not work or will not be used at a time when everyone is expected to tighten their belts. The irony of it all is that this new system of computerised licences is intended to streamline the system. The old system cost approximately £8 million a year to administer, which in today's terms and given the size of the UK economy, is extremely good value for money.
Under the new system and instead of providing a code valid for only 72 hours, you can take with you a printout of a PDF document available from the DVLA website. Eh... Sorry, I am suffering from a bad case of deja vu or there is a glitch in the matrix.
Don't forget the DVLA website crashed last year after the road tax disc was abolished.
Yes, I am a dinosaur.
