Don't Replace your Old Licence!

BrendanF

Just thought I'd let more 'mature' readers know that there is NO official requirement to change your orginal paper driving licence for the newer 2 part photocard until the former expires on your 70th birthday. This is contrary to the misinformation I was given by our local post office!

The new type may look nicer, but will cost you £20 then £20+ every 10 years thereafter!

It is also a myth that you need the photocard when hiring vehicles in Europe. I have successfully hired cars in several countries with no trouble at all by showing my passport along with the paper licence.

Inch_High_2

BrendanF wrote: »

Just thought I'd let more 'mature' readers know that there is NO official requirement to change your orginal paper driving licence for the newer 2 part photocard until the former expires on your 70th birthday. This is contrary to the misinformation I was given by our local post office!

The new type may look nicer, but will cost you £20 then £20+ every 10 years thereafter!

It is also a myth that you need the photocard when hiring vehicles in Europe. I have successfully hired cars in several countries with no trouble at all by showing my passport along with the paper licence.

So If you're 60 or above it will cost £20 and then £20 every three years after that anyway.


So anyone 60 or above who downsizes their home will get it free and no increased cost.

photome

Inch_High wrote: »

So If you're 60 or above it will cost £20 and then £20 every three years after that anyway.


So anyone 60 or above who downsizes their home will get it free and no increased cost.

I am confused. why will it cost £20 and then £20 every three years after 60 if you keep the old paper license

Rover_Driver

Inch_High wrote: »

So If you're 60 or above it will cost £20 and then £20 every three years after that anyway.

Licence renewal at 70+ is free.

facade

Inch_High wrote: »

So If you're 60 or above it will cost £20 and then £20 every three years after that anyway.

Not until your 70th birthday. Then you will need to go to a photocard and renew every 3 years

Inch_High wrote: »

So anyone 60 or above who downsizes their home will get it free and no increased cost.

Correct, there is no fee to swap a paper licence to photocard if you are changing your name or address.

Nilrem

You do however have to replace your old paper licence for a new two part one if you move at all (it's an offence not to have an address on it that you can be contacted at - either your home, your parents etc).

Iceweasel

Both BrendanF and Nilrem are correct - at the moment.

You do not need to replace your olde style paper licence - unless you change address or reach 70 - then a photocard licence is issued as a replacement.

At the moment photocards with a paper counterpart are in use - but the UK has agreed to phase out the counterpart - "by the end of 2015"

No date or order has been given for the compulsory surrender of the old style paper only licences.

I wouldn't be too confident that our government will stick by the statement/promise made many years ago that drivers could continue with their paper only licence until age 70.

The rules have been quietly amended so that the Secretary of State in the form of the DVLA can withdraw those paper only licences any time they feel like it - "as a logical follow up" to the latest pan-european format photo licences.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/98A

Aretnap

Iceweasel wrote: »

I wouldn't be too confident that our government will stick by the statement/promise made many years ago that drivers could continue with their paper only licence until age 70.

No chance of that. There's a European deadline of (IIRC) 2033 for all remaining paper licences to be replaced with photocard ones, by when there'll still be some (probably not too many) paper licences out there. It might well be done sooner than that - probably whenever the number of paper licences still out there becomes small enough that the transition will be manageable and won't cause too many howls of outrage, but as you say no firm date has been set.

jfdi

And for the few who DO still have paper licences - copy it before you send it off - as DVLA have a habit of accidentally losing categories when they issue the photocard ones!

Richard53

jfdi wrote: »

And for the few who DO still have paper licences - copy it before you send it off - as DVLA have a habit of accidentally losing categories when they issue the photocard ones!

I know a few people who have 'lost' their motorcycle entitlement in this way. And some have had a real struggle to get it back. Almost as if it's deliberate ...

buglawton

Does the UK have the most expensive driving license renewal in the EU?
Going by our passport renewal costs it would not surprise me.