Driving license renewal at 69...

KevinM2

Hi,

Sorry if this is an obvious question, but my driving license is due to expire in a couple of weeks, and I am 69...I know that I had to apply for a new one at 70 regardless of the expiry of my current one.

Anyway, I thought I was supposed to get a reminder letter from DVLA, but I have not received one, so last week (as I couldn't afford for my license to expire) I applied for a renewal online...the new license arrived today.

Firstly, I had to pay for the renewal...I take it that is how it is supposed to be? Most of the people I know said that they didn't have to pay, but I never saw any option in the online form to not pay...

Secondly, I thought the expiry of this license would go beyond my 70th birthday (I think after 70 a driving license has a 3 year life? is that right)...so I thought it would last until at least 2028 (when I will be 73)...but it expires in 11 months, in Feb, 1 day before my 70th birthday...

So, I take it I will need to re-apply for another license renewal next January again? Will I need to pay again?

I did try to call DVLA to ask about this, but after being in a queue for over an hour, I lost the will to live...

Many thanks...

SiliconChip

I can't remember whether I had to pay when I last renewed my licence but it's clear now that the cost for renewing online is £14, or £21.50 at a Post Office or £17 if you do it by mail. However, when you're 70+ renewal is free, but as you say it has to be done every 3 years. If you are within 90 days of your 70th birthday you can also renew free of charge. 

One thing I'm uncertain of (but I'll be interested to know as this will apply to me at next renewal turns out that I was wrong, my licence expires the day before my 70th birthday) is how long the licence is issued for when you turn 70 within 10 years from the renewal date - is it the full 10 years, does it expire at 70, or 73, or something else?

https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence 

https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70

BoGoF

I'm assuming that it was the photocard that needed renewing and cost you £14?

Yes, you will need to apply at 70 (or 90 days before) and this is free (currently),

Renewing an existing licence is totally different to renewing at 70 so any  licence renewed prior to someone becoming 70 will always expire at 70

KevinM2

Thanks BoGoF...it looks like what happened is what is supposed to happen (well, almost...never got any reminder), but charging £14 for an 11 month "rental" of a license is a bit rich...but at least my renewal next January will (should) be free...

Much appreciate the clarification...

BoGoF

Unfortunate timing I guess. I'm not even sure you get a reminder for a photocard replacement - better check mine!

KevinM2

BoGoF said:

Unfortunate timing I guess. I'm not even sure you get a reminder for a photocard replacement - better check mine!

Crikey, that could be risky...with a 10 year life, if you don't get a reminder, it could be VERY easy to allow it to expire (accidentally)...

Car_54

OP, your licence wasn’t about to expire, just the photocard. You’re still entitled to drive until youre 70. If you hadn’t renewed nothing awful would have happened, and you’d be £14 better off.

SiliconChip

I guess the MSE thing to do is to change from paper to photocard licence at one of your big birthdays ending in 0, then when you renew at 60 you get a full 10 years before you start the 70+ renewal process. However, in the absence of a time machine, it's too late for the vast majority of people who will just have to accept that they'll get less than the full 10 years on their final under 70 renewal.