My licence - stick with paper or go for photo id?

dampsquib

Today I hit 60, yet I still have my paper licence - we are both is reasonable nick. I'd decided that I would finally cough up the £20 and swap to a Photo-Id licence - reasoning that I would then only have to pay the one £20 fee before my paper licence ran out at 70.
Having a photo-Id might be useful? One bank a few weeks ago turned their nose up when I produced my paper licence. I had had made the decision, but now I've read more, I'm not sure what to do.
I gather parliament has given the DVLA authority to withdraw all remaining paper licences, but it seems the DVLA has no plans to use this power (yet?). If ever they do, I wonder if they will swap paper for plastic for free?
I've also read that colour photo id's will also stop being issued in 2015 when a new black & white ID is introduced. This will contain more info, but you'll still need to submit a coloured photo, even though the Id will only have a black & white snap of the driver.
So, what shall I do, swap now and pay £20, or wait and see what comes?
What are the pro's & con's of switching?

dzug1

They will swap for free if you move house.

AnythingButChardonnay

Photos on photocards are already black&white and have been for about 5 years now.

Paper licences should remain valid until 2033, or the eve of your 70th birthday, whichever is sooner.

Personally I'd keep hold of it for nostalgia, if nothing else. And I wouldn't give the government any more details about myself than I absolutely had to anyway.

Save yourself £20 and the risk of them screwing up and 'losing' your entitlements. Keep it as long as possible.

They'll start issuing yet another type of 'new' style photocard licence from 19th January 2013.

vaio

^^ x 2...........

vax2002

AnythingButChardonnay wrote: »

Photos on photocards are already black&white and have been for about 5 years now.
.

One bloke was thrown in jail for having the old colour photo on his licence as the police said it was a forgery

Wig

I'm still on paper and I will never change to photo by choice.

neilmcl

vax2002 wrote: »

One bloke was thrown in jail for having the old colour photo on his licence as the police said it was a forgery

Really! Any evidence of this?

I assume when you say "thrown in jail" you actually mean was detained briefly or are you trying to tell us someone was convicted for forgery when they had a valid colour licence.

vax2002

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104198/Father-jailed-months-wrongly-accused-having-fake-photo-driving-licence.html

pogofish

Wig wrote: »

I'm still on paper and I will never change to photo by choice.

Same here. A green one at that.

Last time I got pulled-over, the young copper who probably wasn't even born when it was issued was completely flummoxed by it!

scotsbob

Last time I was asked to produce my licence was in 1989 after a minor accident. I see no need to change to a photo one until I have to, on my 70th birthday.

Sgt_Pepper_2

vax2002 wrote: »

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2104198/Father-jailed-months-wrongly-accused-having-fake-photo-driving-licence.html

That explains a lot you're a DM reader.