Got a plastic driving licence issued in 1998 or 1999? Renew your photo now!

bmckeand

I got my license in 1999 and it came with both paper and photocard licenses. As far as I was aware the card isn't legal on it's own.... which also might explain why a speeding offence a few years ago had the points put on my paper license.
Is the paper license required anymore?

fijibabe

However if you have a change of address even a single digit of your postcode, you can change your photo for free as the DVLA are legally obliged to keep their data updated so a change of details transaction is free!

filmstar

TheToothfairy wrote: »

This is interesting because my licence was one of the ones issued in 1999.
I sent it to the DVLA to have my surname updated (which they do for free) in 2006 after I got married but they didn't require a new photo.
I've just checked the date in section 4b and it shows that I don't need to update my photo now until 2016 - so my picture is going to be valid for 17 years!

Same here - changed my name last year so my photo now runs out in 2017!

The difference with me is that I used it as an excuse to also update my photo - (A 17 year old me is not a pretty sight:eek: - Im now 26 and acknowlegde we all make mistakes with looks!)

Anyway - It was free! Dont know how they justify a charge!

behappysmile

Same old same old, another way of making some extra cash.
I can understand changing your photo after so long as I look different from 10 years ago, but to charge £17.50. Why so much?
:mad:

bellrooster

:mad: I sent my new photo and form with my £17.50 a couple of days ago! I've changed address twice since I got my photo licence yet it's expired after 10 years. It's really unfair I think, I put the 2 photos side by side and I haven't changed much!

Not only that, £17.50 is a LOT of money - I'm raiding my penny jar to see if there's enough to buy some Nappies as I don't get any money until Friday! I would use my credit card but I'm trying to pay that off!

I'm sure it doesn't cost the DVLA anywhere near £17.50 to process the new picture! - why can we claim back erroneous charges from banks, credit card comps, etc, yet the government are allowed to rip us off.

elektra

I moved house and sent paper licence off, got a reply back saying needed photo. Went to photobooth and picture came out all blotchy, didn't have any more money that day. Then forgot -month or 2 went past. Didn't think I was doing anything illegal - I had told DVLA of change of address.

Got pulled up for speeding, told police licence was already at DVLA so couldn't produce it at police staion in 7 days. He told me to phone DVLA and ask them to send it back, did that - they said they destroy as soon as they receive. Asked if I sent photo that day would licence be returned in 7 days - no more like 14.

So - case had to go to court as I could not produce documents. I got 4 points (instead of 3) and had to pay court costs. How ridiculous, what a waste of court time and money. Why couldn't the police verify with DVLA they had my licence and tell them to keep it till points added and photo supplied.

smk77

bellrooster wrote: »

I'm sure it doesn't cost the DVLA anywhere near £17.50 to process the new picture! - why can we claim back erroneous charges from banks, credit card comps, etc, yet the government are allowed to rip us off.

£17.50 is probably a much more realistic figure than the charges you get from banks for going overdrawn etc. There's probably at least some manual tasks required when issuing a new photo.

Jocatz

According to Directgov the DVLA will send you a renewal application pack automatically two months before your photo is due to expire. I thought I would just post this information in case anyone is worrying about falling foul of the rules.

You're best checking that the DVLA has your current address to be on the safe side though.

economiser

You can keep a paper licence until you are change name, address or other details or reach the age of 70. I was surprised to find that on reaching 70 I got a plastic licence free of charge.

Babycakes

Why should I pay for this service. I do not want my photo changed - the DVLA do.

Yet another stealth tax - disgusting.