Lost licence

bod1467

A DL doesn't expire ... unless it was a Provisional licence. And even then it's only the entitlement that expires ... if you "renew" you'll keep the same DL number.

AG47

bod1467 wrote: »

A DL doesn't expire ... unless it was a Provisional licence. And even then it's only the entitlement that expires ... if you "renew" you'll keep the same DL number.

Thanks, but someone told me you should have renewed, it has been years since Ive seen my licence, I never needed it. Now I need it, I have moved a few times last few years, cant remember my address last time I changed address on my licence.

Will they be able to find me if I ring up and dont know my DL number or address?

AdrianC

AG47 wrote: »

Thanks, but someone told me you should have renewed

The entitlement to drive only expires on your 70th birthday, but the photocard expires every ten years. You need a current photocard to drive legally.

If your licence is still to an old address, one that you can no longer reliably be contacted at, then you are liable for a fine of up to £1,000. Similarly, you need any V5C in your name to be at a current contact address, too.

AG47

AdrianC wrote: »

The entitlement to drive only expires on your 70th birthday, but the photocard expires every ten years. You need a current photocard to drive legally.

If your licence is still to an old address, one that you can no longer reliably be contacted at, then you are liable for a fine of up to £1,000. Similarly, you need any V5C in your name to be at a current contact address, too.

I dont think its been ten year yet, but will be soon, what can I do to get a replacement licence? I cant remember which address I last had my licence, and I need this to try and find my DL number

I have tried every address I have lived at but they all do not work.

Nodding_Donkey

bod1467 wrote: »

Which brings us back to ... don't they expect the old licence back before issuing the new licence for a change of address? Otherwise they'd charge for a lost licence?

No they don't. And with their form for losing post who knows where it will end up :A

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

They can find you with your full name and date of birth. There is a small chance that your licence will be a duplicate of another person with the same name and initials as the format is:

5 letters of surname, DOB scrambled a little, 2 initials, unique digit - normally 9 but 8 for the second licence with a clash, 7 for the 3rd and so on, then 2 "check digits." I have an 8 and discovered this many years ago when they lost my replacement licence.

So what they need is your full name and then you need to remember some addresses so they can match. You do risk a fine for not keeping your licence up to date.

The other thing I would say is that you always "need" your licence, even though you haven't used it. You can get into a big mess if you cannot produce it when required.

You are supposed to return old licences (I returned mine when the photocard expired), but I am not sure what checking they do.

AdrianC

IanMSpencer wrote: »

The other thing I would say is that you always "need" your licence, even though you haven't used it. You can get into a big mess if you cannot produce it when required.

Assuming, of course, that you drive...

Aretnap

AdrianC wrote: »

You need a current photocard to drive legally.

You don't actually. You're required to surrender the photocard when it expires (presumably to renew it) - and by not surrendering it you commit an offence whether you drive or not. However you don't commit a further offence by driving having failed to renew it. Legally you're in exactly the same position driving with an expired photocard as you are sitting at home watching TV with an expired photocard.