Driving Licence Name Change

impelo

I found a 5 year old forum post on here about name changes on driving licences, but it didn't answer my question, so I hoped some people might have some insight or advice to help me and others. Obviously the DVLA won't take any calls these days.

I got married last year - my husband and I are going to keep working and essentially existing under our original names (so, say, we're "Anna Smith" and "Ben Jones"), but we have also changed our passports both to "Smith Jones", so we exist as both, our children will be Smith Joneses, etc. But no change to our names by deed poll.

I now have to renew my driving licence, which is currently Anna Smith. If I want to make it Smith Jones, I need to do a paper application, and I'm not sure whether there are any advantages to changing it to Smith Jones, or disadvantages of keeping it as Smith? Given my original name still exists in my married name, I hope it wouldn't cause confusion at rental car places etc. But does anyone have any thoughts or knowledge as to any obligations I have, or any run-ins there might be?

Car_54

The only real problem I can see would be with car rental abroad, when passports are sometimes asked for.

FWIW, I would renew the licence online under the current name. Then, when you have the new licence, you can do the name change with no time pressure.

user1977

You don't have any obligation to change, or keep, your name on your driving licence, but it would probably save confusion if you were consistent about what name you're using e.g. often for ID purposes you need to produce photo ID plus something with your address - you're going to have questions asked if you try using your licence plus something else in your other name.

impelo

Thanks so much, both. @user1977 - agree, though most parcels etc will still come to "Anna Smith", and my hope is that if the ID did use Anna Smith Jones it's clear that I'm Anna Smith, too. (Plus both our surnames are slightly unusual, and my first name moderately unusual).
I will do as you suggest @Car_54 - will renew with normal name now for speed and to do it cheaper online, and might well do a no-fee name change down the line (particularly if I run into any problems with it in the interim).
Thank you!

Grey_Critic

My Grand daughter and her hubbie have left it as is. They are both PHds work and are published in their own rights so see no need to confiuse things