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DVLA nightmare

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

Fellow fabbers with more life experience than me, please help a struggling pretend adult out:

I noticed when I was switching insurance earlier this month that my driving licence is due to expire on 6th June. Bear in mind I hadn't received a reminder notice (which I only today realised you're meant to get). I went online to renew it but was told because I don't have a UK passport (EU citizen) I needed to order a special paper form. So I order it and wait a few days. I filled it out today and realised I can't find my current licence to send back along with my application form

I've ransacked the entire house for it over the course of the day and it's nowhere to be seen. I had another query about the application so have tried calling the DVLA countless times - their line just rings as busy, not even an automated message or anything - and their webchat (which I've tried numerous times) just keeps saying there's no advisors available and ends the service abruptly. I've sent them an email but it takes up to 5 days to reply and I'm quickly running out of time!!

I'm absolutely at the end of my tether here. I understand that call centres are short staffed due to covid but come on, there's literally zero chance of getting in contact with anyone at the moment?!

In the meantime, what should I do re my application? Should I also tick the "lost/stolen" box along with "renewing a photo"? Should I enclose a letter explaining my situation and that I have desperately been trying to contact them? Do I pay the renewal fee or the lost/stolen fee?

If anyone has the answers to these mysteries of adulthood I would highly appreciate your help because I'm legit about to cry

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By *allySlinkyWoman
over a year ago

Leeds

How often do you need to renew a license ? I thought it was when you were 70.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I’m renewing mine now .. what a ball ache ...

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By *uke olovingmanMan
over a year ago

Gravesend

Look up which post office does renewals.... explain that you have lost your original... take the reminder letter and see what they have to say ... good luck

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"How often do you need to renew a license ? I thought it was when you were 70. "

I think it's every 10 years for the photo card licence

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

[Removed by poster at 24/05/21 22:11:59]

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By *andyMinx_tvTV/TS
over a year ago

Leeds

I had a similar problem. Is it just the photo ID card that has expired or the licence itself? The photo has to be renewed every 10 years but not the Licence itself. Due to the pandemic they haven't been sending out reminders but have been automatically extending them until October or November (can't remember which) when they will send you a reminder. Check the DVLA website for further details.

Hope this helps.

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By *andAukCouple
over a year ago

leeds


"How often do you need to renew a license ? I thought it was when you were 70. "

Every 10 years with photo licence.

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham


"How often do you need to renew a license ? I thought it was when you were 70. "

Photo licenses only last 10 years I believe

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By *allySlinkyWoman
over a year ago

Leeds

Mine is still paper. That's why I haven't needed to renew it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mine was 5 years

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"Look up which post office does renewals.... explain that you have lost your original... take the reminder letter and see what they have to say ... good luck

"

I didn't receive a reminder letter

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"How often do you need to renew a license ? I thought it was when you were 70.

I think it's every 10 years for the photo card licence "

I don't know, I went online to get my driving licence number when I was switching insurance and that's where I saw that it expires soon.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"I had a similar problem. Is it just the photo ID card that has expired or the licence itself? The photo has to be renewed every 10 years but not the Licence itself. Due to the pandemic they haven't been sending out reminders but have been automatically extending them until October or November (can't remember which) when they will send you a reminder. Check the DVLA website for further details.

Hope this helps. "

I read that the extension only applies if your licence was due to expire between February - December 2020?

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West


"Look up which post office does renewals.... explain that you have lost your original... take the reminder letter and see what they have to say ... good luck

"

^^^This. Larger Post Office branches can advise you on what the best solution is. Good luck, Amber.

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham


"Mine is still paper. That's why I haven't needed to renew it. "

That's right but if you need to change anything in it such as address or points etc then you'll have to get a new photocard one.

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough

Yes as above. Having a passport is NOT compulsory. It just making things run a bit smoother. This is joined up thinking, woweee! (Mine is out of date, too)

A lot of people have been granted an extension to their licence. This is explained on DVLA's website. So don't panic.

When you get your picture done in the photo booth, remember to select digital code as this will send a copy of your photo there and then to their cloud and you then have about 6 months to link that online image to your licence and or passport.

So have a chat with a member of the post office, who KNOWS what the correct process is, as this happens all of the time. Passports go missing and you just have to declare it as lost: only for it to turn up when a new one arrives.

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By *rygveMan
over a year ago

The Shires

If your insurance portal has your driving licence number on it it may be worth going on here and saving the pages showing your festails and taking that to the post office with you ?

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"If your insurance portal has your driving licence number on it it may be worth going on here and saving the pages showing your festails and taking that to the post office with you ?

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence"

I'm not renewing it at the post office as I didn't get a reminder notice. I'm having to post out a D1 form.

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By *ost SockMan
over a year ago

West Wales and Cardiff

Google DVLA and covid. Lots of tales from the last year. May give some explanation for why things are bad at the moment (there’s often stories about the place in normal times too, of course).

This is not a dig at frontline staff there!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've just done my licence renewal online.

Bear in mind though everyone was given an extension due to covid via the dvla so you may not have to renew your licence just yet. Mine showed as expired October last year but was still valid until May this year.

If you look on dvla it tells you how long your licence is actually valid for depending on its expiry date on the licence at present.

The post office services start at £17 and they can help with the photos,I'd,forms etc...

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By *rygveMan
over a year ago

The Shires


"If your insurance portal has your driving licence number on it it may be worth going on here and saving the pages showing your festails and taking that to the post office with you ?

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

I'm not renewing it at the post office as I didn't get a reminder notice. I'm having to post out a D1 form. "

I’d still get a list of what you currently have listed on your licence if you can. Just in case....good luck.

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By *tace 309TV/TS
over a year ago

durham


"How often do you need to renew a license ? I thought it was when you were 70.

I think it's every 10 years for the photo card licence "
mine is valid till I'm 70 then I think its, every 3 to 5 years,after that

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"I've just done my licence renewal online.

Bear in mind though everyone was given an extension due to covid via the dvla so you may not have to renew your licence just yet. Mine showed as expired October last year but was still valid until May this year.

If you look on dvla it tells you how long your licence is actually valid for depending on its expiry date on the licence at present.

The post office services start at £17 and they can help with the photos,I'd,forms etc..."

Extension only applies if your licence expired between February/December 2020

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By *tace 309TV/TS
over a year ago

durham

Mine will have definately been valid more than 10 years by the time its, up . I changed from paper to card and nothing has changed on mine

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By *icolerobbieCouple
over a year ago

walsall

They are a nightmare to contact on my experience. I feel your pain op.

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By *tace 309TV/TS
over a year ago

durham


"Mine will have definately been valid more than 10 years by the time its, up . I changed from paper to card and nothing has changed on mine "
so I assume if you had a, paper one nothing changeswhen you apply for a card but I can't say for anyone who has only ever had a card

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By *tace 309TV/TS
over a year ago

durham

I had, trouble last year with the DVLA over my car registration Form. That took 10 months to get sorted. As, with most government departments, during covid it is virtually impossible to get anything done. I've currently got the same problem with land registry. I'm sorry but this working from home just doesn't work

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham


"How often do you need to renew a license ? I thought it was when you were 70.

I think it's every 10 years for the photo card licence mine is valid till I'm 70 then I think its, every 3 to 5 years,after that "

Do I need to exchange my paper driving licence for a photocard?

In 2015, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) scrapped the paper part of driving licences for anyone who had been issued with one after 1998.

If you’ve been issued with a paper licence at any point over the last 23 years, you should also have a photocard, and you can happily discard your paper counterpart.

However, if you were issued with a paper licence before March 2000, it may still be valid, provided that all the information on it is still correct. For example, if you have moved house or changed your name since receiving your licence, it will make it invalid, and you could be fined £1,000 if caught by police using it.

One study found that up to 3% of women were using their maiden name on their driving licence.

Does the DVLA still issue paper licences?

In 1998, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) replaced the old-style paper licence with a plastic photocard and paper counterpart, the latter of which was used for tallying up the number of licence points you had.

However, in 2015 the paper counterpart was replaced by an online service, and paper counterparts ceased to be issued entirely, partially due to the number of people that kept losing them. Around 445,000 people misplaced theirs in 2014, having to pay £20 each time to replace it — a total cost of nearly £9m.

Are paper licences still valid in 2021?

Some paper licences are still valid in 2021, but not all of them.

If your paper licence was issued before March 31, 2000, and, as outlined above, all of the information on your paper licence is still correct, then it will usually remain valid until you turn 70.

On the day before your birthday, you will need to renew your licence, and you will be issued a photocard free of charge. All driving licences must be plastic by 2033.

If you fancy modernising and swapping out your paper licence for a photocard, you can do so through a service on the government website.

Swapping costs £20, and the government says that it may take over three weeks for you to receive your plastic licence due to disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Provided you’re medically and legally cleared to drive and your application isn’t more than a year old, you’re allowed to drive while you are swapping out your paper licence for a photo card.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I've just done my licence renewal online.

Bear in mind though everyone was given an extension due to covid via the dvla so you may not have to renew your licence just yet. Mine showed as expired October last year but was still valid until May this year.

If you look on dvla it tells you how long your licence is actually valid for depending on its expiry date on the licence at present.

The post office services start at £17 and they can help with the photos,I'd,forms etc...

Extension only applies if your licence expired between February/December 2020"

You can still pay the post office for the appropriate services you need to renew yours and not have to send forms off in the post and wait for them to come back to you to complete. A lot of them you can download and fill out and then get your photos done via a digital copy.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Good luck with getting things sorted out. I had a long saga with DVLA for about 4 months last summer. There was no service unless you were a lorry driver or worked front line for the NHS.

I complained and got nowhere but they sent me a cheque to refund the fee I had to pay for the “non-service” but no apology.

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By *iamondCougarWoman
over a year ago

Norfuck! / Lincolnshire

** went off to check the date on mine!**

Phew .... ok for a while yet! I hope you get it sorted Amber

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By *orny PTMan
over a year ago

Peterborough


"How often do you need to renew a license ? I thought it was when you were 70.

I think it's every 10 years for the photo card licence "

and every time you change your name, address, test passes and in extreme cases sex/gender.

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