Driving Licence Renewal

AntCL

Hi,

I have not found this anywhere else, only the stick (about the fines) for having an out-of-date Driving Licence.

1) I have not driven for over 3 years and I have no intentions of driving in the near future (next few years).

2) My Driving Licence expires in November this year, a little over 60 days time.

3) I also have a Personal Alcohol Licence.

So, my question is:

Do I HAVE TO renew a licence that I am not using and not intending to use (it feels a bit like paying insurance on an item you have already scrapped, if you see the analogy)?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

AdrianC

No, if you aren't going to drive, you don't need renew your driving licence.

But, if and when you do want to drive again, then you will need to renew it...

There's zero correlation between holding an alcohol licence and a driving licence.

Ganga

What is " A Personal Alcohol Licence "

AdrianC

Ganga said:

What is " A Personal Alcohol Licence "

The other half of a premises licence...
https://www.gov.uk/personal-licence-to-sell-alcohol

TooManyPoints

Why does your licence expire? Is it the photocard that expires or are you approaching 70 or hold a short term licence for medical reasons? If one of the last two there is no charge for renewal. More than that, if your licence expires before 1st January next year your entitlement to drive will be extended by eleven months (due to Coronavirus).

born_again

Do we take t that the licence expires due to the 10 year need to update picture?

Does a  A Personal Alcohol Licence have your photo on it and is it acceptable as proof of ID? If not then renew driving licence as that is proof of ID so long as it a photo one.

AntCL

AdrianC said:

No, if you aren't going to drive, you don't need renew your driving licence.

But, if and when you do want to drive again, then you will need to renew it...

There's zero correlation between holding an alcohol licence and a driving licence.

The first two points are as I suspected but I wasn't sure if, once it expired, I would have to pass a new test or not?

There is a correlation between the licences IF any endorsements on a Driving Licence relate to alcohol (such as drink driving), the local authority can withdraw the Licence.  So belt and braces, just in case, even if because of a cough medicine or something.  My licence is 30+yrs old and never had a pt or even a parking fine... I intend to keep it that way.

Ganga said:

What is " A Personal Alcohol Licence "

Dealt with, thanks AdrianC.

TooManyPoints said:

Why does your licence expire? Is it the photocard that expires or are you approaching 70 or hold a short term licence for medical reasons? If one of the last two there is no charge for renewal. More than that, if your licence expires before 1st January next year your entitlement to drive will be extended by eleven months (due to Coronavirus).

Yes it is the 10 year renewal of the photograph that is expiring on my current licence.

As I have not been driving and not intending to, Covid-19 is/has had no impact on my current Driving Licence.

born_again said:

Do we take t that the licence expires due to the 10 year need to update picture?

Does a  A Personal Alcohol Licence have your photo on it and is it acceptable as proof of ID? If not then renew driving licence as that is proof of ID so long as it a photo one.

Yes photo as clarified above.

Personal Alcohol Licence does have a photo but it has no expiry date and the address is printed on the back of the card and not under the name and alongside the picture, so it is not recognised as a legal method of identification, unlike a Driving Licence.  However, I have used the Personal Licence as ID in some cases (to collect a parcel, etc) and the only time I have ever used my Driving Licence as ID, was along with a 20+yr old out of date Passport to prove I am a British Citizen... to get the Personal Licence.

Thanks again everyone.

Seeing all of your reponses, I guess I asked the wrong question when it comes down to if I let the Driving Licence expire and then want to drive in years to come.

New Question: Will I be able to renew (an expired Driving Licence), maybe after a certain period or would I have to take a new test again?

TooManyPoints

As I have not been driving and not intending to, Covid-19 is/has had no impact on my current Driving Licence.

Except that its validity has been extended by eleven months.

AdrianC

Oh, it's just the photocard?

Your entitlement to drive remains until your 70th birthday...