Renewing photocard licence

ronlizpatsimon

This featured in today's edition of MSE.
I tried to renew on line. It was not possible. If you try the "Over 70s" route; you eventually get told that you cannot do it (probably because only the photo is out of date - not the license period.)
I tried the normal "Renew" route. That went ok until the very end when the site tried to extract £20 (supposed to be free if over 70).
I have complained to the Licensing site (2 hours wasted)

john1

I helped my uncle renew his over 70s the other Saturday on line. No problem using his 8 year old passport as photo reference. No fee paid



Licence through the post arrived Tuesday.


I was very impressed by DVLA service

bryanb

Over 70 licence lasts 3 years. Photo last 10 years, after 10 years you pay.
If photo hasn't reached 10years then over 70 renewal is free - simples!

ronlizpatsimon

Good evening John1
Thank you for your saga; however the circumstances are not the same as mine. Only my photo was out of date - not the license.
Good evening bryanb,
You could be right but from what I have read there seems to be doubt. I have emailed the website involved to get a ruling.

Reggie_Rebel

Did my Dad's photo licence renewal on line. He's over 70, no problems at all

ronlizpatsimon

Good Morning Reggie,
See my reply to John1

ronlizpatsimon

I have the answer. If the card has expired only because the photo is more than 10 years old; if you are over 70 it is free. However; the DVL website cannot cope with these particular circumstances. Thus you have to apply by post or via the Post Office (chargeable by using Post Office).

Scrounger

Hi, my paper licence dates back to 1981 (groups: A,D,E - motorcar, motorcycle & moped) - no photo.

What is the simplest way to update my address details and will it cost anything? Incidentally, I don't have a passport.

Thanks in advance, Scrounger

ronlizpatsimon

Good evening Scrounger, you are well named; you could have looked up the details on the DVL website.
You will need to renew your license. You will be issued with a photo card and a counterpart (of paper). Send a passport quality photo along with £20 and a completed application form from the Post Office.

Scrounger

ronlizpatsimon wrote: »

you could have looked up the details on the DVL website...

Actually, I did look at the website but found it confusing. Initially it seemed to suggest that an address change could be done online (it said a passport "or other ID" would be required). As I probed deeper, I was unable to establish what other ID would be suitable (as it then only referred to a passport).

Without actually starting the application process (and I'm not ready yet) I could not establish if it could be done online. Also, I remember address changes used to be free!

In addition, my Govt ID works on some sites and not others (for instance it works for Inland Revenue but not National Insurance) :mad:

Incidentally, my main post office has two photo booths and a few months ago they told me that the one we were going to use for my mother's bus pass photo was "for photo driving licences only". What's that all about (ie if a normal passport-type photo will do why is there a special booth)?

What groups should I expect to get on my new licence (have A,D,E now)?

Thanks for your help - I'm gutted about the fee though.

Scrounger

giraffe69

I've just updated my licence which went back to the early 1990s because of a change of address. No photo part until now. It was free and available on line. I do have a passport and they could and did take the photo from that and as reported above all done free and very efficiently.
If you don't have an online photo available you will have to send a couple in but it is still free and the website advises you of this.