How to renew an expired driving licence.

hamer

Hi guys,
My brother has recently passed away and whilst trying to sort out his affairs on behalf of his wife, it has come to light that his wife's driving licence expired in October 2018. I have read that the way to renew it is via a D1 form however  the form doesn't feature a section covering this scenario.
I have rang DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and 0300 790 6802 on numerous occasions but all I keep getting is a message saying "the other person has cleared" which is driving me nuts. 
Has anyone any advice on how this can be resolved or how I can get to speak to one of the faceless and currently voiceless bureaucrats at DVLA.
   Thanks
     hamer.

Robin9

DVLA have a huge backlog and have suffered more than most due to COVID-19

Be patient and put your SIL's driving licence to the bottom of your list of things to do.

Car_54

When you eventually speak to someone, they will (correctly) refuse to discuss your SIL's licence with you.

hamer

Thanks Robin however it doesn't solve the problem.

Car_54, thanks for the "advice"

Robin9

You are fortunate that it has been discovered that the licence has expired as it's a criminal offence to drive without a licence.

I think your SIL will have to apply for a provisional licence and then take a test.

In these extraordinary times that will be a drawn out process.

facade

Why has it expired?

If it is the photo that expired, she just has to renew it.

She only has to take her test if she never passed in the first place,  if ordered to by a court to retake it, or if she passed her test and didn't apply for the licence within the 2 year validity of the pass certificate.

https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence

AdrianC

Car_54 said:

When you eventually speak to someone, they will (correctly) refuse to discuss your SIL's licence with you.

This...

DVLA cannot speak to YOU about HER licence. They will, of course, speak to her... but it's none of your business.

I presume it's expired because she's hit (or is over) 70?
https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70

Has she not driven for the last two years, either? If that is the case, then does she actually want to get back behind the wheel? Might some refresher lessons be a good idea?

hamer

As I said earlier, her licence expired in October 2018. Consequently she has been driving prior to my brothers death which was mid June, completely ignorant of the fact that the licence has expired. 

Aretnap

hamer said: I have read that the way to renew it is via a D1 form however  the form doesn't feature a section covering this scenario.

What scenario do you think needs covering? 
https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70

"You can use this service to renew your British driving licence if you’re 70 or over.. and your British licence has expired" 

There doesn't appear to be any restriction on how recently her licence has to have expired for her simply to renew it. 

She shouldn't really have driven after her licence expired, but it's a bit late to worry about that now. She doesn't have to tell the DVLA that she's been driving for the last 2 years when she makes the application. 

(You still haven't said why it's expired; I'm assuming it's because she's over 70. However if it's just because the photo is over 10 years old the process is even simpler, and the expiry of the photo card does not affect her right to drive). 

hamer

Hi guys,
Just found out that there's a section on Gov.uk where you can enter License Number, NI Number and Post code which then displays licence history and bingo, she has a valid license until July 2021. The Counterpart Driving License that she has said that it expired in 2018.
All's well and all that!
Thanks guys for all your help and suggestions.
  hamer.
 

Car_54

hamer said:

Hi guys,
Just found out that there's a section on Gov.uk where you can enter License Number, NI Number and Post code which then displays licence history and bingo, she has a valid license until July 2021. The Counterpart Driving License that she has said that it expired in 2018.
All's well and all that!
Thanks guys for all your help and suggestions.
  hamer.
 

The counterpart has been obsolete since about 2012, and should have been thrown away.