Driving Licence Photo Renewal but temporarily bald

James123_2

This is a bit of an odd question. Please bear with me.
My wife is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. As such, she is clearly bald. This all feels like somewhat surreal as I have just been through the same thing myself. However, the DVLA require an updated and current photograph - every ten years, apparently. I haven't managed to get any pointers from DVLA themselves so wondered whether anyone had any suggestions on this one. The photograph has to be a 'true likeness' - that's all I can gleam.
Thanks in anticipation.

mluton

I have long hair on mine, but have short spikey hair now, hardly ever need to show it and it's never caused me an issue when I have done, they just look twice at you.

paddedjohn

im sure ive read somewher that in circumstances like this she would be allowed to wear a wig, failing that have you got any pics pre chemo? if so regardless of size you can get them resized at a good photo shop

babyshoes

I am sure she would be fine in a wig which is close to her natural colour, but tie it back if long so the focus is on her face. You probably wouldn't be able to tell in the photo that it is a wig anyway.

asbokid

James123 wrote: »

This is a bit of an odd question. Please bear with me.
My wife is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. As such, she is clearly bald. This all feels like somewhat surreal as I have just been through the same thing myself. However, the DVLA require an updated and current photograph - every ten years, apparently. I haven't managed to get any pointers from DVLA themselves so wondered whether anyone had any suggestions on this one. The photograph has to be a 'true likeness' - that's all I can gleam.
Thanks in anticipation.

Good luck to your missus with the treatment.

I do the passport photos on-the-cheap for the driving licence, travel cards, access card, etc.

Find a suitably coloured curtain or plain wall for a background.
Take photos of yourself with a good digital camera.
Select the best image and Photoshop as necessary.
Crop and scale image to required dimensions for passport photo (35mm x 45mm)
Tessellate onto a suitable canvas size (e.g. 6" x 4").
Copy the tiled image onto a flash memory stock
Print on high quality photographic paper in Boots/ASDA/Morrisons for 29p.

James123_2

Hi there!
Thanks for all the great replies. I love the last one!
She never opted for a wig pre-chemo so this isn't really an option. I gather that they try to model the wig on your existing hair. Unless, of course, any random wig could be used? I've been told that she mustn't wear her headscarf - unless for religions reasons. I guess she could opt for a religious conversion??
The last passport-type photograph we took was two years ago, so isn't acceptable by DVLA. I just wondered whether the DVLA has any discretion to waive some of their rules to allow us to either use an old photo or to extend the existing licence until she has some hair. Unless the DVLA can read such information from their bible of rules it seems that no-one there can give a straight answer. I think we'll have to send a bald picture, for now! She has enough to worry about. Thanks again!

robchap_2

as long as you renew your photo online you can use your passport photo as long as your passport has 5 years or more left to run on it
i know that as i did mine like this 2 weeks ago
thats if your wife has a passport

MX5huggy

The DVLA are not going to know when the photo was taken, just use the 2 year old one. I think someone on here said the used the same photo 10 years later.

James123_2

Thanks, yes we renewed our passports six years ago - otherwise the online thing would be a great option.

I know that the issue of hair and not having hair might appear to be a small issue, but chemotherapy can make an individual look very different from their normal self. The lack of hair really has an impact too for a woman. As such, any current photo would not be a true likeness - as required. Indeed, she is barely recognisable from her former self.
I think we'll take the easiest option and submit an old photo - even though DVLA tell me I can't! It has been previously used for other ID. Besides, they don't have an answer to my conundrum. (Never used that word before!)
Thanks to all for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated. Even though there is often not a straight-forward answer to such a query, it's good to get soundings from others.

steady__eddie

I was stung for the twenty quid ten year replacement photo job about 3 or 4 months back but if it had been 3 or 4 weeks ago it may have been a different story.
For idiosynchratic reasons, I only have one haircut every year and that is on St. Georges day when it all comes off down to the wood. Currently, I do not resemble my photocard by any stretch of the imagination so I'd better hope that I don't have to produce my license for 6 months or so.
James, hope everything goes alright for your missus.

p.s. I use my license quite a lot as i.d. when opening savings accounts in person and I've never had any hassle, does that say something about our money laundering regs ?

PoppyHoppy

I'd go with robchaps suggestion. You can go onto direct.gov http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/NeedANewOrUpdatedLicence/DG_078070
and as long as your wife has got a current UK passport, they'll use that picture.
Hope that helps and your wife is making good progress. Best wishes.