Driving Licence renewal

ElusiveLucy

My driving licence expires in August, when I am probably going to be on holiday. Does anyone know how much notice the DVLA give you on the renewal notice?

The website says it takes about 3 weeks for the licence to be processed, so would need to apply for it a month before I go away, or 6 weeks before it expires.

david39

You don't need to wait for them to notify you.

Renew the licence a few weeks before the old one expires - the new one will be dated from the old expiry date.

Strider590

They won't notify you, they'll just send you a fine for not renewing it.

ElusiveLucy

Oh, OK. The website seemed to imply that you had to renew it with a renewal form they sent through to you.

I am thinking of using the Post Office scheme which costs £4.50 extra but includes them taking the photo, digitising the signature etc, so isn't really much more. Any experiences with that?

Strider590

^^ There's been a big thing about this if you search the internet, lots of people got caught out.

JANINE3994

Hi there

I've just renewed my photo driving licence.

Didn't run out until 11 June 2010 but I sent it off in good time to make sure it was all done & dusted b4 then.

Cheeky DVLA have sent me a new photo licence & it is valid from 26.05.2010 & expires 25.05.2020.

So - they don't automatically date the licence from the old expiry date - unless this is just a mistake on mine.

So, basically I've lost just over a couple of weeks on mine.

In scheme of things it won't make much difference in 10 years time - but it's the principle.

Certainly won't be sending it off early next time (if I remember).

ElusiveLucy

I'm going to lose out on mine then as it expires towards the end of a fortnight's holiday and I need to make sure I have it back in plenty of time to take it with me....ho hum!

david39

I renewed mine several weeks before my 70th birthday because I knew I would be required to take an eye test and did not want to leave anything to chance that I might be without a valid licence if there was a delay
.
As expected, mine was only renewed for three years but it expires on the day before my birthday, so I did not lose any weeks or days by early renewal.