How do I exchange an old driving licence for a photocard one?

mitchelljohn

Hi Guys,
I'm havi"covidng a tough time with the DVLA because I'm trying to exchange my old style driving licence for a new style photocard licence.
They have sent me forms to fill in and I also have to supply a photo signed by myself and someone who knows me. I thought this was only required if you are applying for a brand new licence but I can't get an answer from the DVLA who are running a "covid-restricted answering system", ie, no phone calls, emails or livechat!
Any advice most welcome

greyteam1959

Well sort of obviously you need a photo for a photo card licences.
Can you not do all this online ??

mitchelljohn

No, I don't have a valid passport.
And I know I need a photo, I get that. I don't see why I need someone to sign it?

DoaM

mitchelljohn said:

And I know I need a photo, I get that. I don't see why I need someone to sign it?

Because it's an official form of ID, and such ID must be validated by someone known to you but not related to you. (If you were getting a passport you'd have to do the same thing - that's why a passport photo can be used for a photocard licence).

Question though ... why are you changing your licence? To my knowledge there's no legal requirement to do so. (SWMBO still has her old paper licence).

mitchelljohn

my old one became defaced so you couldn't even read this name etc.
i have got a passport but it's expired so I guess it wasn't valid.

oscarward

Unless you need to produce it it doesn't matter what condition  it is in and even then authorities can contact dvla.  I think the paper licence only expires at 70 whereas the photo one has to be renewed on a regular basis as presumably your mug will change over time so the photo won't match.

But there again a photo licence is handy for proof of id for other reasons than driving.

BTW has anyone ever been asked to verify if they certify someones photo?

Car_54

mitchelljohn said:

No, I don't have a valid passport.
And I know I need a photo, I get that. I don't see why I need someone to sign it?

Because the DVLA won't give you a licence unless you do.

It's glaringly obvious why they ask. I'm sure you'd be the first to complain if you became a victim of identity theft because some scallywag obtained a licence in your name.

AdrianC

mitchelljohn said:

No, I don't have a valid passport.
And I know I need a photo, I get that. I don't see why I need someone to sign it?

How else do DVLA know that's a photo of you?

A passport photo is already in use on a government-issued document, and the photo has already been certified to be you.

The problem is that Covid means this is monumentally bad timing to be doing something that requires posting things to DVLA. Unless you REALLY need to do it NOW, I'd leave it until things return a bit more to normal. I mean, you've clearly not needed to change it for the last two decades, so another few months probably won't hurt...

molerat

The last time I "produced" my old paper licence was in 1990 when it got sent off to the court for them to write on it  You need to wear cotton gloves to handle it now but I won't be changing it for another few years yet.

forgotmyname

molerat said:

The last time I "produced" my old paper licence was in 1990 when it got sent off to the court for them to write on it  You need to wear cotton gloves to handle it now but I won't be changing it for another few years yet.

Mine is made mostly from sellotape.  Company had to take copies for their insurance every January. Handed some shreds to the lad to copy
and he handed it back a while later having done a very good jigsaw job on it.   Quick glance it looked laminated but it's just layers of tape.

Photo, who wants a photo of me?  (except revolut of course, they still cannot take the hint I have no photo ID. Closing the account fails.)