Check your driving licence discussion

givemeabreak_2

At this time, renewals at 70 are free, and need to be renewed every three years after that, also free,:j it is simply for the medical questions to be answered and updated.

richve

Martin is misleading in stating to change address on driving licenses is simple
After spending some time I discovered that you cannot change address if your previous address is in Northern Ireland and you now live in England


More to the point the gov.uk site does not tell you this


It is only when you give up trying to input your details, being continually informed that they dont know you, and you phone DVLA, that they tell you


I should have known not to expect anything better from DVLA

warrenpeace

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone can give me some advice. Ever since I've had my license, right from having a provisional through to passing and getting a proper one, my name has been spelt wrong on it. I've never thought much of it really until this article and the other day when a friend noticed it.

My name is Christopher, but my license says Christpher. Missing the O. I mentioned this to my examiner when I passed and he said he'd get it changed but never did and I didn't bother with it myself either.

What I'd like to know is - is this a problem? Do I desperately need to get it changed? Will it invalidate my license or insurance?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks, Chris.

gerbinflit

Yes, although I have no personal experience of mis-spelling, I would definitely get it changed ASAP. Now everything is linked and cross-referenced... DVLA/Police/Insurance/Passports, it might cause some problem in the future and then it could be difficult to sort out.

Hooliegirl

Hi,

I'm trying to insure my motorhome and have been asked to supply a photocopy of my licence. I have done this, the licence was issued in 1986 at my mother's permanent address, a property I now own and will be moving to before the end of the year. My current address, my father's former permanent address is written on the inside. I have been told that I need to update my licence or I can't get insurance? I've previously been told by the police that my licence is valid as both addresses are properties that are in my name, however, my current address is the handwritten one.


Do I really need to get a photo licence when my permanent address will be accurate in a few months and the new one will need updating. What are the legalities?


Any information gratefully received.


Thanks,
Claire

Rover_Driver

The requirement for the address on a driving licence is a GB home address at which you can be contacted. It doesn't have to be your home address, so as long as you can be contacted at that address, it is valid.

Hooliegirl

Hi Rover Driver,

Many thanks for this, once I explained that the addresses are both mine they said that it was alright...I get to keep my original one for a while longer at least!

Relieved
Claire

nmjams

I past my driving test Aug 2011, received both parts of my new licence in the post a week later.
I saw a moped go past earlier and thought that would be nice and cheap to go to work and back on, so dug my licence out, it's out of date by 2 months!

I've applied online for a new 1, but it wasnt to clear whether i have to send the paper part as well

it said:
Please cut your old driving licence into two (both parts if it is a photocard) and return it

I had no reminder, i thought that because i had only past 2 years that i would get a full 10 years. It seems that they have applied the remaining time on my provisional to my full licence

any advice? can i still drive?

rodh_2

Hi all,

I have had an EU licence for 8 years now (issued in Malta). I've lived in the uk for almost as long. I can drive in the UK with that licence until the ripe old age of 70, so never felt the need to exchange the license to a UK one (£50 + paperwork). Particularly as I live in London and only ever rented cars (and have a zipcar membership).

I wouldn't mind exchanging my licence now as I can't deny the UK is my permanent home, and I may end up purchasing a car in the next few years and it seems like it might make things less complicated.

If I do so, does it become a new licence in the eyes of insurers? Presumably I'll no longer have physical proof of my previous licence. What about car rental companies, when they require you to hold a licence for at least one year? Would I not be able to rent a car for a year?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this, or any experience exchanging an EU licence?

Many Thanks

AnythingButChardonnay

rodh wrote: »

Hi all,

I have had an EU licence for 8 years now (issued in Malta). I've lived in the uk for almost as long. I can drive in the UK with that licence until the ripe old age of 70, so never felt the need to exchange the license to a UK one (£50 + paperwork). Particularly as I live in London and only ever rented cars (and have a zipcar membership).

I wouldn't mind exchanging my licence now as I can't deny the UK is my permanent home, and I may end up purchasing a car in the next few years and it seems like it might make things less complicated.

If I do so, does it become a new licence in the eyes of insurers? Presumably I'll no longer have physical proof of my previous licence. What about car rental companies, when they require you to hold a licence for at least one year? Would I not be able to rent a car for a year?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this, or any experience exchanging an EU licence?

Many Thanks

Is your current Maltese licence in the photocard format? If not, then *maybe* it is worth exchanging if you're worried about it being accepted as ID or whatever. But otherwise I wouldn't bother.
If it is an old format, it won't be valid until you're 70 (although it may well say so), but until 18th January 2033 (I'm assuming you're not over 50!) when all old formats become obsolete and the new EU-standard photocard format becomes compulsory. If it's a newer format, it will probably only be valid for 10 years anyway (although, of course, your entitlement to drive lasts until 70 in all cases - it's just administrative validity that is shorter). In the UK administrative validity isn't really important as it doesn't invalidate your entitlement to drive, although it may cause you hassle.

As for what happens to dates, it will (barring some DVLA !!!!-up) come back with a licence saying you've held category B (cars) etc since xx-yy-2005 (or whenever). The issue date and administrative validity of the physical licence is entirely different from the length of time you've held the entitlement to drive.

For instance, on the front next to '4a' it has a valid from date and by '4b' an expiry date 10 years later. That refers to the validity of the photocard (its administrative validity) https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/image_data/file/12647/s300_17.08.2012.jpg
Whereas on the back it lists the categories you have and when you obtained them. These should be transferred over from your Maltese licence. https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/image_data/file/1155/Card_02_960x640_02.jpg

Personally I would be minded to keep a non-UK licence because it makes 'doing' you for minor motoring offences that little bit harder. But it's up to you. If you wanted to do other driving tests then you would have to switch it eventually.

Hope that's helped a bit.