DVLA and paper licences

Spivved1987

We have lived in the same house for many years so have not changed our paper licences. My friend says it is illegal to keep paper licences if your address has changed (which obviously I knew) even if the only change is the postcode. Many years ago the Post Office changed the first letters in the postcode for this address, although the digits remained the same. So I have been in breach of the law for about 25 years.

True or Tripe?

PS All V5s, VED reminders etc have been sent to this address using the updated postcode.

Car_54

Would a letter to the address on the licence reach you? If it would, there is no problem.

Mildly_Miffed

The address on your licence needs to be one at which you can be reliably and quickly contacted.

Will post to the address including old postcode reach you in a timely fashion, quarter of a century after the change?

I have to admit, I don't understand this fear of changing to a photocard. It's a very, VERY useful bit of ID for all sorts of stuff.
The usual reasons given are...
"They might lose entitlements" - check the record online, because the records have all long since been changed over to the current systems. https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
"The cost" - the photocard replacement is £14 once a decade which equates to £1.40/year or 2.7p/week... If your budget's that tight, you can't afford a car.

WellKnownSid

Does the old postcode still work if you do a lookup on the royal mail site?

I suspect a long-expired postcode might cause confusion about home address or insurers to question it if one was a lower risk - even if letters still arrived okay.

We once lived in a house with two postcodes (both were valid) and always used one for a better school catchment and the other for much cheaper car and house insurance…

chrisw

Technically, your friend may be correct as the Road Traffic Act requires the 'correct' name and address. However, if any correspondence sent to that address will reach you then it's unlikely to ever be an issue.

Car_54

chrisw said:

Technically, your friend may be correct as the Road Traffic Act requires the 'correct' name and address. 

Does it? Section number, please.

Mildly_Miffed

Car_54 said:

chrisw said:

Technically, your friend may be correct as the Road Traffic Act requires the 'correct' name and address. 

Does it? Section number, please.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/part/III/crossheading/granting-of-licences-their-form-and-duration

s99
(4)Where the name or address of the licence holder as specified in a licence ceases to be correct, its holder must forthwith surrender the licence to the Secretary of State
(5)A person who without reasonable cause fails to comply with the duty under subsection ... (4) above is guilty of an offence.

Baldytyke88

Spivved1987 said:

We have lived in the same house for many years so have not changed our paper licences. My friend says it is illegal to keep paper licences if your address has changed (which obviously I knew) even if the only change is the postcode. Many years ago the Post Office changed the first letters in the postcode for this address, although the digits remained the same. So I have been in breach of the law for about 25 years.

True or Tripe?

PS All V5s, VED reminders etc have been sent to this address using the updated postcode.

I got my plastic card licence at the earliest opportunity. What is your reasoning for avoiding the upgrade?

It's much more convenient to have another form of ID.

Spivved1987

Baldytyke88 said:

I got my plastic card licence at the earliest opportunity. What is your reasoning for avoiding the upgrade?

It's much more convenient to have another form of ID.

Sheer bloody-mindedness, I guess, together with a lack of knowledge that I needed one. I don't have a 'fear' of a new photo-licence, as such.

Spivved1987

chrisw said:

Technically, your friend may be correct as the Road Traffic Act requires the 'correct' name and address. However, if any correspondence sent to that address will reach you then it's unlikely to ever be an issue.

Any correspondence I have received from DVLA in the last 25 years has quoted the new postcode, including when they wrote here with the previous occupant's name saying now that she had turned 80 she needed to renew her licence!

For the avoidance of doubt (as some posters seem to be slightly misinterpreting my details), the difference is between 

(1) Paper licence address: 

123 Anytown Road

Any County

UK

X55 4AG

and 

(2) Current postal address:

123 Anytown Road

Any County

UK

Y55 4AG

Spivved1987

I suppose the question turns on whether the postcode legally forms part of an address. One for m'learned friends.