Check your driving licence discussion

rodh_2

AnythingButChardonnay wrote: »

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)
Whereas on the back it lists the categories you have and when you obtained them. These should be transferred over from your Maltese licence.

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.

Thanks AnythingButChardonnay.

Your response confirms what I suspected: Despite the issue date being refreshed, the date of the class of vehicle I can drive will stay the same. That's reassuring.

Regarding transfering. You do raise a good point. I think I might have to think about it a bit more. For anyone curious, my main motivation is the following:

1. Some insurance companies quote differently for non-UK licences. Or outright don't insure non-uk licences.
2. Zipcar and a few other car rental companies have been understanding, but I've had some grief with some car rental companies with them stating I should have transfered my licence after 6 months residency. Forwarding them DVLA's own rules and regulations seem to fall on deaf ears. Some of them go as far as to state outright "[the licence] will need to be held for at least 36 months and be from your country of residence". I have no recent proof of address from Malta.
3. As you've pointed out, validity is only 10 years. I'll have to renew it eventually, which may be a hassle.
4. The address associated with the driving licence is obviously not my current address. I don't think I'm breaking the law as my parents live there and so mail will get to me one way or another. But I don't know for sure, and would rather avoid a fine.

Hadrian

I have my DL in front of me. It's a small red-backed booklet, with green pages, renewable every 3 years for the princely sum of £1. That's £7. 20 ( Govt figures) in todays money. It runs from 1 Feb 1972 (yes 1972!) and expires 31st Jan 1975. I never learnt to drive on a car but passed my test in the army on a whacking big lorry. I keep it in the glove compartment in case I'm stopped by the police. In all these years I've never been stopped.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

AnythingButChardonnay

rodh wrote: »

1. Some insurance companies quote differently for non-UK licences. Or outright don't insure non-uk licences.
2. Zipcar and a few other car rental companies have been understanding, but I've had some grief with some car rental companies with them stating I should have transfered my licence after 6 months residency. Forwarding them DVLA's own rules and regulations seem to fall on deaf ears. Some of them go as far as to state outright "[the licence] will need to be held for at least 36 months and be from your country of residence". I have no recent proof of address from Malta.
3. As you've pointed out, validity is only 10 years. I'll have to renew it eventually, which may be a hassle.
4. The address associated with the driving licence is obviously not my current address. I don't think I'm breaking the law as my parents live there and so mail will get to me one way or another. But I don't know for sure, and would rather avoid a fine.

1. is surprising because I would have thought that there would be some EU law on not letting insurance companies 'discriminate' against one EU national over another. But I suppose it is understandable from an insurance company's point of view.
2. yes they are talking utter rubbish, but of course they are free to refuse your custom even if it is based on their ignorance of the law. One can (with very few exceptions) use an EU licence in another EU country until it expires. That's the theory anyway and may not be the practice. For instance, from reading other forums I know that in Spain the police are known to bully foreigners into exchanging their licence once they become 'resident'.
3. I don't know what it's like renewing a licence in Malta GC. Maybe you could let it coincide with a holiday back, or through the post with your parents?
4. In the UK for a UK licence at least, the address just has to be one you can be contacted at. e.g. I'm a student and use my parents' address even though I'm there maybe only 3 months per year. A lot of EU licences don't have an address on them anyway (it's optional) and if you did need to change your address each time you moved, then that would undermine the idea that you can continue to use one EU licence in another country (as it would require you changing your address each time). So I wouldn't worry

Dewpoint

I recently got a reminder from the DVLA stating that my driving licence expires on the 4th Jan 2014 and that I should renew.
The blurb that comes with the renewal notice says explicitly that "Your licence will be valid for ten years unless you are a holder of a full lorry, bus or minibus driving licence". It also say that the driving licence will be valid from the date the application the new licence is processed - not the expiry date of the old one - which seems a bit cheeky to me!
So I renewed recently at my local Post Office - cost me £20 + 4.50 for the photo.
When I got the photo-card licence back it stated that it expired after just 3 years - i.e. when I reached 70.
Nothing in the blurb that came with the renewal notice mentions this restriction. In fact, it clearly says the licence is valid for ten years (and highlights these words). It means of course, that I have to go through the expense and inconvenience of applying for yet another licence in three years time. If I had known I wouldn't have bother wasting £24.50 of my pension and just waited until I was 70 before renewing. Since I have never been stopped in 30 years the chance of being caught is minimal, and I would advocate others in my position doing the same.
In my opinion the DVLA is like many other government quangos - inefficient, expensive and a bureaucratic nightmare.

Rover_Driver

Dewpoint wrote: »

It means of course, that I have to go through the expense and inconvenience of applying for yet another licence in three years time. If I had known I wouldn't have bother wasting £24.50 of my pension and just waited until I was 70 before renewing.

There is no charge for renewing a licence at 70.

Dewpoint

Rover_Driver wrote: »

There is no charge for renewing a licence at 70.

Not really the point. I think the DVLC has an obligation to at least provide full and accurate information on their notices, or is that expecting too much of a government quango?

trollopscarletwoman

It seems to becoming much more common that insurance companies want to see a copy of your driving licence.

In my position I still have the old pink paper one but with a different address. A little bit remiss of me as I've lived at this current address for 8 years!

I've sent it off for the photocard version. Odd situation in when speaking to the insurance company about this, if I sent off a copy of my licence with my old address then they would have to base the premium on that, even though I have no connection with it.

Bit off a faff too. As I don't have a passport the Photo likeness has to be verified by somebody on the approved list. And they will be contacted to confirm-maybe!

bursey

Just found out my driving licence expired 4 yrs ago(eeek) will renew tomorrow however will I be fined for late renewal. Just didn't realise and can I still drive ?

Rover_Driver

bursey wrote: »

Just didn't realise and can I still drive ?

An out of date photocard does not affect the entitlement to drive.

m_raz1

Hi i dont drive, do i still need to renew the photo???