"Before we can send you a driving licence you must return your current driving licence..."

Danydan

I changed my address on my licence in November 2019 and this rule was in place then. Had to send them my driving licence cut in two before they’d issue the new one. 

sheramber

from the gov.uk website
You must send your old photocard licence to DVLA when you get your new licence. You’ll be told the address to use when you finish the application.

anniecave

Yes, but what if you "forget" to send the licence back? Or if you do send the licence back, and it never arrives in the post to DVLA? What happens in either of these cases? In both cases your new licence still arrives.  

As above posters say, there's no one at the DVLA who is matching up whether old licences are received back, either before or after the new licences are issued. 

I guess they ask for the old licences back as it reduces the chance of people trying to use old licenses for fraudulent or identity theft purposes. 

James_Mass

anniecave said:

Yes, but what if you "forget" to send the licence back? Or if you do send the licence back, and it never arrives in the post to DVLA? What happens in either of these cases? In both cases your new licence still arrives.  

As above posters say, there's no one at the DVLA who is matching up whether old licences are received back, either before or after the new licences are issued. 

I guess they ask for the old licences back as it reduces the chance of people trying to use old licenses for fraudulent or identity theft purposes. 

I've checked the status of my renewal application and it states "Transaction status In Progress: Awaiting Application Return Form"

So dosen't appear they'll be sending my licence out at the same time.

bikeman17

Changed my address 3 yrs back, I promised to send but forgot. However still got sent the new. 
Anyone know why?