Paper licence @70yrs

olbas_oil

I'm approaching 70, and understand that I'll need to renew my licence every 3 years. I currently have a paper licence.

Will I need to renew at 70 or 73 ?

I'll also need to hire a car in Spain this year. I understand I do not need an IDP, but I'm worried about what some smaller franchise may make of my paper licence (+passport). I think a photocard licence might be a better idea.

At the moment I'd need to pay £20 for a photocard licence (same name & address). If I wait till I need to do an age related renewal, would I avoid this fee?

oldernonethewiser

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

user1977

The expiry date should be on your licence - I'd expect it to be the day before your 70th.

olbas_oil

Thanks to both of you. I've spotted the expiry date, but it's not until December so I can't access the information at https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70.

If I changed to a photocard licence now, costing £20, would it be the same expiry date? That seems like poor value for nine months.
Or if I delayed until October, would I get a new photocard licence in exchange for my tatty pink and green paper one? And would I need to pay £20.

cw8825

olbas_oil said:

Thanks to both of you. I've spotted the expiry date, but it's not until December so I can't access the information at https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70.

If I changed to a photocard licence now, costing £20, would it be the same expiry date? That seems like poor value for nine months.
Or if I delayed until October, would I get a new photocard licence in exchange for my tatty pink and green paper one? And would I need to pay £20.

It would be the same expiry date

Robin9

olbas_oil said:

.................... I think a photocard licence might be a better idea.
.................

So do I -  just imagine getting stopped by the Traffic Police.   £20 is a small price to pay compared with problems on your holiday.

lincroft1710

You can renew in October, as you have a current UK passport your photo will be taken from that.  You will lose some entitlements 

Freecall

olbas_oil said:

I'll also need to hire a car in Spain this year. I understand I do not need an IDP, but I'm worried about what some smaller franchise may make of my paper licence (+passport). I think a photocard licence might be a better idea.

As far as that specific point goes, I have hired cars all over the world from Europe, North and South America and throughout Asia.and have never had a problem with my licence.

I certainly wouldn't pay £20 just for the fun of it.

This is supposed the be MSE after all.

Iceweasel

olbas_oil said:

Thanks to both of you. I've spotted the expiry date, but it's not until December so I can't access the information at https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-
licence-at-70.

If I changed to a photocard licence now, costing £20, would it be the same expiry date? That seems like poor value for nine months.
Or if I delayed until October, would I get a new photocard licence in exchange for my tatty pink and green paper one? And would I need to pay £20.

Get a photocard licence now - cost £20.

It's not poor value at all IMHO.

Your renewal at age 70 in December will be free.

Every 3 years you need to renew again - each renewal will be free.

vacheron

Photocard licence or not, I would still get an IDP for Spain.

You DO NOT need an IDP to leagally drive in Spain (for periods less than 6 months) if you have a UK photocard licence, but some Spanish hire car companies still insist that you present one when you collect the car due to ambiguous wording of their policies. (Many state that an IDP is required if the licence presented is from a "NON EU" country). This affects recently renewed (UK) licences, but also older valid EU marked licences because the UK is now no longer an EU country.

I have encountered this twice in the last 3 years from two different hire car firms so now I take an IDP (1949 version) with me just to be safe. The cost is just a few £ plus a passport photo which I print out myself at home on photo paper.

You won't need to take the IDP with you when you are driving in spain (just your UK licence and hire agreement), as legally you don't need one so the local police won't care.

I's a silly situation, but better than being refused the car when you arrive!