Deciding not to renew a licence 70+ - how to do it

Spikeygran

Thus far the few things I've looked into that require age or identity verification (setting up to sell on ebay, vinted, senior railcard, free bus pass) all insist on a non expired passport, or valid driving licence.

I'd keep it renewed and keep your options opened.  I think its about £14 to renew the driving licence, which is so much cheaper than getting a new passport.  Also circumstances change.  A lot of widows faced with being stuck with public transport and a car on the drive, find themselves needing to drive again.  Driving schools do refresher confidence building courses.

BootsMullery

Spikeygran said:

Thus far the few things I've looked into that require age or identity verification (setting up to sell on ebay, vinted, senior railcard, free bus pass) all insist on a non expired passport, or valid driving licence.

I'd keep it renewed and keep your options opened.  I think its about £14 to renew the driving licence, which is so much cheaper than getting a new passport.  Also circumstances change.  A lot of widows faced with being stuck with public transport and a car on the drive, find themselves needing to drive again.  Driving schools do refresher confidence building courses.

Renewing a driving licence is free once you reach 70 years old but it has to be done every 3 years.

Emmia

BootsMullery said:

Spikeygran said:

Thus far the few things I've looked into that require age or identity verification (setting up to sell on ebay, vinted, senior railcard, free bus pass) all insist on a non expired passport, or valid driving licence.

I'd keep it renewed and keep your options opened.  I think its about £14 to renew the driving licence, which is so much cheaper than getting a new passport.  Also circumstances change.  A lot of widows faced with being stuck with public transport and a car on the drive, find themselves needing to drive again.  Driving schools do refresher confidence building courses.

Renewing a driving licence is free once you reach 70 years old but it has to be done every 3 years.

And the holder must fulfil the eyesight and other medical requirements needed to hold a licence, which might stop being the case.

Spikeygran said:

Thus far the few things I've looked into that require age or identity verification (setting up to sell on ebay, vinted, senior railcard, free bus pass) all insist on a non expired passport, or valid driving licence.

I'd keep it renewed and keep your options opened.  I think its about £14 to renew the driving licence, which is so much cheaper than getting a new passport.  Also circumstances change.  A lot of widows faced with being stuck with public transport and a car on the drive, find themselves needing to drive again.  Driving schools do refresher confidence building courses.

The widows may no longer be fit to drive, and so although they nay have a car and a licence, they shouldn't be using them. This is a good reason for having a proper national ID card, available to all citizens, rather than a bodge using driving licences.

Spikeygran

Yes agreed fitness to drive is key, but many are able to retain their licences and continue to drive safely.  So I just think its sensible to keep their options open.

p00hsticks

Personally I'd bite the bullet and pay to get / renew a passport, even if you have no intention of going abroad, to use for ID purposes. A driving licence can always be taken off you if your eyesight deteriorates or for other reasons, (my father had to surrender his). You need photo-id for so much these days (opening bank accounts, collecting parcels, buying and selling property etc), and given that a passport last ten years in my view it's a small price to pay to avoid a lot of inconvenience

user1977

Okell said:

Perhaps I'm mistaken but my understanding is that expired passports and expired photo driving licences remain valid as proof of identity(?).

After all, if you've had a valid passport or valid photo driving licence you don't suddenly cease to be that person as regards "identity" when it expires.

Many places won't accept expired ID. I think part of the logic is that fraudsters may be more likely to doctor an ID which is "spare" (and never again needs to be used by the genuine holder). 

lordmountararat

A bus pass is proof of identity, if she has one.

Frozen_up_north

Given that from age 70, it is free to renew, why not simply renew it?

Grey_Critic

It costs nothing to renew your licence from 70 onwards except your time every three years. You do however have to go through the health checklist.

My wife has osteoporosis and a damaged spine which makes sitting behind the wheel uncomfortable.

A year ago she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s - which is notifiable and there is an extensive check list of medical conditions so you do need to go through that and you may find they require a medical certificate.

In my case I have Diabetes and because I use Insulin my licence has a medical endorsement.

The form says to return your licence if giving up driving but has the option of claimh you have lost it.

Emmia

Grey_Critic said:

It costs nothing to renew your licence from 70 onwards except your time every three years. You do however have to go through the health checklist.

My wife has osteoporosis and a damaged spine which makes sitting behind the wheel uncomfortable.

A year ago she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s - which is notifiable and there is an extensive check list of medical conditions so you do need to go through that and you may find they require a medical certificate.

In my case I have Diabetes and because I use Insulin my licence has a medical endorsement.

The form says to return your licence if giving up driving but has the option of claimh you have lost it.

But once the licence expires 3 years later, a renewal won't be possible if you're not medically fit.