Driving license, please advise - sick with worry :(

mrs:optimist_2

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry if this is the wrong place to post, I wasn't sure where to ask this. I really hope someone can advise me.

I need to renew my driving license photo, I had the form through the post and it was due by the end of June 2010. I didn't have the money to pay it (we're on a DMP with CCCS at the moment) but will be able to once DH gets paid on 28th (it's £20).

I'm worried sick that I'm going to get fined £1000 for being late with it. DH suggested that I phone the DVLA but I'm worried that this will just alert them to the fact that I'm late with it and they'll slap the fine one (if they haven't already).

But it gets worse, I'm so stupid, I have just realised that I never changed my name on my driving license when I got married in October 2006!!! It's an offense to not change your name, and I'm over 3 years late :eek:

I'm so so so scared that when I renew the photo (and I will have to do the name at the same time) they will see how out of date the name change is and will fine me for that.

If they fine me for both that's £2000 and at the moment we have no savings, we're on a 15 year DMP and our grocery budget is about £100 per month. We can't find that money anywhere and I'm terrified.

I'm usually very optimistic and upbeat and don't let things get to me but this is scaring me as I don't know what to do for the best, do I phone them and explain the situation? Or would you just send off for the photo and name change on 28th July and hope and pray they don't fine me?

Will it be an automatic fine or is it just if you get caught by a police officer? I'd rather know, even if it's bad news :(:(:(:(

Thanks everyone

mandyl

hi
cant help with the photo part,but ive only just changed the adress on mine and i moved 2yrs ago. nothing was said. x

mrs:optimist_2

Thank you, that's reassuring! Did they know that you moved two years ago though? To change my name I'll have to show my marriage certificate which has the date on!

DarkConvict

I would not panic about it, generally they want it kept up to date in case they need to contact you, i.e. missing cars, fines, car tax issues.

As to the renewal, just explain it was an unexpected expense and you are saving money to pay for it.

mandyl

yeah i think so as all my bike tax came to my new ad

mrs:optimist_2

DarkConvict wrote: »

I would not panic about it, generally they want it kept up to date in case they need to contact you, i.e. missing cars, fines, car tax issues.

As to the renewal, just explain it was an unexpected expense and you are saving money to pay for it.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the reassurance

mrs:optimist_2

mandyl wrote: »

yeah i think so as all my bike tax came to my new ad

Thank you x

piccalilli_2

It took me more than a year to change my name and no repercussions came from it :-)

DarkConvict

I lived away for a year, and never changed my address, my mom sold the old house when i was away so updated the details on when i started to live at the new house. They did not mind at all.

The £1000 fine is there for a reason, it is threatening to see, but encourages you to keep up to date.

Marisco

Have they only started charging for photos? I had the old style licence and when I moved I had to send it in with a photo - £3 in one of those booths - but I don't recall paying for it!! It was a few years ago mind!

linz

I sent my passport to show my name change, that had no date on with regards to when my name changed, I think you can send passports rather than marriage certificates for proof of i.d / name. Check the form...