Driving licence renewal

thedodger197

I am 76.  My driving licence expired December 2020.  I have tried to renew several times online, but the system is unable to access my new passport photo for some reason.  There is an 11 month exemption, but I want my licence.  How can I get this problem resolved?  To me this is inexcusable.

Hasbeen

thedodger197 said:

I am 76.  My driving licence expired December 2020.  I have tried to renew several times online, but the system is unable to access my new passport photo for some reason.  There is an 11 month exemption, but I want my licence.  How can I get this problem resolved?  To me this is inexcusable.

What site are you using, does it end with .Gov.UK?

 Is is definitely  the DVLA site.

Bluebell1000

I had a similar problem, though mine is just an expired licence on the 10 year renewal. According to dvla when I asked about it, they have a computer issue and no idea when it'll be fixed. I got the impression it was related to the 11 month extension not being recognised on their systems. I was told I'd have to apply by post, and I could add a note requesting dvla refund the difference since the error was at their end.

AliMT_2

I have problems with their medical services. Given a short term licence for the last 6 years and have been given misleading and contradictory information every time leading to the licence not being issued until weeks after expiry of the old one.

happybagger

Last week I went online for my mother, who wasn't aware her DL expired (she's 82) last year. We spotted it when doing insurance quotes. Wasn't aware of the extension. Either way, I did the stuff online, cut it in two and returned it as requested. Was gobsmacked when she phoned me just 2 days later to say she had received the new one.

[Deleted User]

My 10 year photo card expires at the end of this month, got my renewal letter in the post about a month ago (very early) but I haven't gone online yet to renew it. I'll wait until the actual day it expires to renew it as I remember the last time they issued the card from the date of application and not from the date the old one expires.

Vofs1

thedodger197 said:

I am 76.  My driving licence expired December 2020.  I have tried to renew several times online, but the system is unable to access my new passport photo for some reason.  There is an 11 month exemption, but I want my licence.  How can I get this problem resolved?  To me this is inexcusable.

This is due to recent versions of UK passports (since 2018) not holding the photo and your signature on the same page in the passport system. It appears that DVLA were not informed of this change and do not say how this issue is to be fixed, The DVLA has not updated their website to inform users of the implications. If you have a new passport in the last 3 years you are unlikely to be able to renew your driving licence online. This problem impacts over 70 drivers who need to renew their driving licence every three years. Not only can they not renew their licence for free on line they have added costs going through any alternative system for renewal.

MSE and  AGEUK  need to highlight this problem and get the Home Secretary to fix it.

Vofs1

This is due to recent versions of UK passports (since 2018) not holding the photo and your signature on the same page in the passport system. It appears that DVLA were not informed of this change and do not say how this issue is to be fixed, The DVLA has not updated their website to inform users of the implications. If you have a new passport in the last 3 years you are unlikely to be able to renew your driving licence online. This problem impacts particularly over 70 drivers who need to renew their driving licence every three years. Not only can they not renew their licence for free on line they have added costs going through any alternative system for renewal.

MSE and  AGEUK  need to highlight this problem and get the Home Secretary to fix it.

[Deleted User]

Vofs1 said:

This is due to recent versions of UK passports (since 2018) not holding the photo and your signature on the same page in the passport system. It appears that DVLA were not informed of this change and do not say how this issue is to be fixed, The DVLA has not updated their website to inform users of the implications. If you have a new passport in the last 3 years you are unlikely to be able to renew your driving licence online. This problem impacts particularly over 70 drivers who need to renew their driving licence every three years. Not only can they not renew their licence for free on line they have added costs going through any alternative system for renewal.

MSE and  AGEUK  need to highlight this problem and get the Home Secretary to fix it.

I got my passport in Feb 2019 and my photocard driving licence expires end of this month. Are you saying I can't renew my photocard licence using my passport (cheaper online service) or does this just apply to over 70s?