found old licence, moved address, what to do?

dvoinik

I'm in a bit of a quandary..

Years ago (early 1990s) I applied for a provisional driving licence. In the event I never actually took lessons, never passed my test, and have never driven. I had completely forgotten about it until recently when looking amongst my old paperwork I found the licence.

The address on it is about 15-20 years out of date now. I haven't lived there since the late 90s.

I am wondering now, what to do with the licence. Should I just get them to update my address. Will there be a penalty for not having told them sooner about the change(s) of address?

I don't actually need the licence as I don't intend to learn to drive. Can I just return the licence to the DVLA, or will it look funny if there's a different address on it to the one I am now writing from..

The provisional licence is still valid (except for vehicles of category A) but is very old, as I say.

Am I likely to get into trouble with the DVLA for not having updated my address, bearing in mind I don't actually drive and have never used the licence?

Thanks for any advice.

anotherbaldrick

Just destroy it , shred it or burn it so that it no longer exists. Tens of thousands of licenses go missing every year.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

Just destroy it , shred it or burn it so that it no longer exists. Tens of thousands of licenses go missing every year.

that still doesn't take him off DVLA data base though does it! if the OP incurred fines that amounted to much the debt collection agencies would have found him/her by now .

you can surrender your license if you wish by returning the license to the DVLA, I would include a letter stating that you had intentions of learning to drive in the 90's but decided you wouldn't partake in lessons after you received your license back and had no need for it, you were going to surrender the license when you moved but had packed it up with other letters you intended to store in the new house, until you rediscovered it recently you now wish to surrender it.

Aretnap

The DVLA don't prosecute people for failing to update their address. The police sometimes do, but usually only when it comes to light because the person has done something else naughty.

So it's very unlikely that anyone will care that you're 15 years late in updating it, but there's no need to tell them that. You can either

(a) just update the address to your current one. You don't need to give 15 years of addresses, just your new one, so the DVLA won't know whether you've had many addresses in the last 15 years, or whether you've just moved for the first time. Assuming you don't have a photocard licence though you'll have too apply for one at a cost of £20ish - bit of a waste if you don't plan to learn to drive

(b) Surrender it with a note to say you've changed address but as you've never driven you don't wish to pay for a photocard licence, therefore you're voluntarily surrendering your entitlement to drive. No need to say when you changed address or how many addresses you've had in the intervening time. If you do ever device to learn to drive you'll have to apply for a new lprovisional from scratch -the cost is currently £50.

chrisw

After 15 - 20 years I would bin it and forget about it.

anotherbaldrick

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

that still doesn't take him off DVLA data base though does it! if the OP incurred fines that amounted to much the debt collection agencies would have found him/her by now .

you can surrender your license if you wish by returning the license to the DVLA, I would include a letter stating that you had intentions of learning to drive in the 90's but decided you wouldn't partake in lessons after you received your license back and had no need for it, you were going to surrender the license when you moved but had packed it up with other letters you intended to store in the new house, until you rediscovered it recently you now wish to surrender it.

Provisional license only lasts 10 years so this one ceased to exist over 10 years ago, are you serious that DVLA are to be considered a problem ?

TrickyWicky

Aretnap wrote: »

The DVLA don't prosecute people for failing to update their address. The police sometimes do, but usually only when it comes to light because the person has done something else naughty.

+1

I didn't update my provisional for moons. Then I started lessons and updated it. Nothing happened. The moon didn't fall out of the sky, the ground didn't fall away from my feet, the sun continued to burn despite the lack of oxygen..

Seriously, the doovla don't care about provisional licences really. Only the fuzz are bothered by it and thats only if it's a full licence and they've caught you driving badly.

dvoinik

Thanks folks.
It's a provisional licence, still valid till about 2040!! But it's just a tatty bit of paper, not a photocard or anything like that.

DigForVictory

Me, I'd renew it at the right address. Mostly as CRB checks want 2 of a National Insurance Number, a current passport or a current driving license. Also, life happens, you may want to drive (or Have To) and £20 now should save you £50 plus later...

atrixblue.-MFR-.

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

Provisional license only lasts 10 years so this one ceased to exist over 10 years ago, are you serious that DVLA are to be considered a problem ?

wrong so wrong.

its valid till you 70 just like any other license issued in the 90 (paper). and new ones aren't invalid only that you have to change your photo card every 10 years wich doesn't make it invalid!.

taken from pdf application driving license provisional.

Q. How long is a provisional licence valid for?
A. Driving entitlement for holders of both old style paper licenses and newer photocard licences is to age 70.

OP heres how to surrender your license.

https://www.gov.uk/giving-up-your-driving-licence

anotherbaldrick

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

wrong so wrong.

its valid till you 70 or 75 just like any other license issued in the 90 (paper). and new ones aren't invalid only that you have to change your photo card every 10 years wich doesn't make it invalid!.

http://applications.doeni.gov.uk/publications/document.asp?docid=19311 see page 3 , valid 10 years if not renewed ceases to be valid.