From paper to photocard license

catflea

My father is looking to change his driving license. He has one of the very old 100% paper one and is looking to update it to a photocard licence.

Is this something that can be done online, or is there a form he needs to fill out?

Cheers all

KillerWatt

I don't know about doing it online, if nothing else he will need to get his photo signed by a "respectable pillar of the community" to verify the image is a true likeness.
There is a DVLA office in Pompey where he can take the paperwork (on the corner of Kingston Crescent & the M275), pay the relevant fees, and have it all dealt with in one go.
Two words of warning if he does go there in person...

1. Parking is restricted, and the private clampers are "clamp happy"
2. Make sure he gets a photocopy of his existing licence showing the class of vehicles he is entitled to drive and get them to sign it, a friend lost his motorcycle entitlement when he swapped his paper licence for a photocard and it took him ages to get it back on.

catflea

Cheers KW, we know all about the DVLA office in Portsmouth, had to go there a few times to get VED rates changed on cars etc (classics)

KillerWatt

catflea wrote: »

we know all about the DVLA office in Portsmouth,

Kerry certainly does, the last time the missus & I went down there with her she ended up slapping some moron who didn't like her chosen lifestyle :rotfl:

birkee

Can't be done on line because of the photo requirements.
You also need, as mentioned by KillerWatt, an approved person to certify that you are the person applying for the licence.

I've just had to change mine, upon reaching 70, and you need to certify on the form that your eyesight is still up to spec too. This licence ONLY lasts for three years.
The ordinary licence is good for 10 years I believe, not everlasting like the original ones.
(Because they want photo updates I suppose.)

pompeyrich

catflea wrote: »

My father is looking to change his driving license. He has one of the very old 100% paper one and is looking to update it to a photocard licence.

Is this something that can be done online, or is there a form he needs to fill out?

Cheers all

If he has a Passport the picture from that can be transferred to a diving licence and the whole thing can be done online, HERE.

pulliptears

Why? As birkee states changing from the paper licence will incur a fee every ten years. Unless he really has to change it (points, house move, name change etc) I'd stick with the paper one. Besides, its fab seeing the look of complete confusion on kids faces when they see it

Rikki

Unless he really needs to change to a picture driving licenses I wouldn't.
Reason being it has to be replaced at a cost every ten years. If you forget to renew you will not be able to drive.

Paradigm

Rikki wrote: »

Unless he really needs to change to a picture driving licenses I wouldn't.
Reason being it has to be replaced at a cost every ten years.

Agreed, spending money for no reason.... this is MSE y'know

Rikki wrote: »

If you forget to renew you will not be able to drive.

I don't wanna go through this again but that's not strictly correct.

catflea

I have no idea at all why he wants to do it, I suspect that his paper one might be falling to pieces (it might not be though)

Thanks for the info everyone... :cool:

I've got to renew my photocard, it expires on the 14th, I'll do that online this afternoon

Rikki

Paradigm wrote: »

Agreed, spending money for no reason.... this is MSE y'know



I don't wanna go through this again but that's not strictly correct.

I do know a friend 's firm wouldn't allow them to drive the company car until he was in possession of the the renewed license.

Just looked up the reason why his license was issued before 1976.

Driving before your licence is returned

You can drive before you get your licence as long as you:

• have held a Great Britain or Northern Ireland licence issued since 1 January 1976 or another exchangeable licence