DVLA and paper licences

user1977

Mildly_Miffed said:

Spivved1987 said:

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

I'm actually quite intrigued as to which part of the country has been changed from one top-level postcode area to a different one.

The Outer Hebrides changed from PA to HS: HS postcode area - Wikipedia

Spivved1987

Okell said

I think the OP is simply giving an illustrative example to demonstrate that nothing has changed but the post code.

Thank you. I'm glad somebody got my drift!

Spivved1987

Okell said:

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 wouldn't worry about it.

You haven't changed address.

(But I'd agree with others that there is no sensible reason for not getting a photo ID driving licence.)

Probably not. But can I apply for one because I feel like it, or have I got to have a reason for doing so? Do I need to go and speed so I get points on my licence, or if I say "because my postcode changed 25 years ago" will I be sewing mailbags......

Mildly_Miffed

user1977 said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Spivved1987 said:

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

I'm actually quite intrigued as to which part of the country has been changed from one top-level postcode area to a different one.

The Outer Hebrides changed from PA to HS: HS postcode area - Wikipedia

They did - in 1995 - but the rest of the code changed, too.

PA80-87 became HS1-9

TooManyPoints

Do I need to go and speed so I get points on my licence,

 Drivers have not been required to physically submit their licence for "endorsement" since 2015.

Suzycoll

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.

The address on your licence must match exactly (including the postcode)

May I ask WHY you want a paper one ( does anyone have a paper one !!)

Plastic one much easier 

Spivved1987

TooManyPoints said:

Do I need to go and speed so I get points on my licence,

 Drivers have not been required to physically submit their licence for "endorsement" since 2015.

Obviously if you have a digital licence all they need to do is record the endorsements via a few keystrokes. Not sure if you still only have a paper licence though.

Spivved1987

Mildly_Miffed said:

user1977 said:

Mildly_Miffed said:

Spivved1987 said:

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

I'm actually quite intrigued as to which part of the country has been changed from one top-level postcode area to a different one.

The Outer Hebrides changed from PA to HS: HS postcode area - Wikipedia

They did - in 1995 - but the rest of the code changed, too.

PA80-87 became HS1-9

This isn't the case with  my postcode though, where only the prefix letter changed. The remainder stayed the same. Your amateur sleuthing will need to carry on. I don't live in the Hebrides.

Final clue: in the old code there was just one prefix letter, in the new code there are two.

JGB1955

When we moved into our new-build house in 1985 it wasn't initially allotted a postcode, so for 40 years my paper licence has shown one which represents just the city (e.g. XX1).  All subsequent correspondence from DVLA has arrived correctly and when it came time for me to renew my licence at 70 years the reminder came to the corrected postcode XX2 8XX.  No drama.

Mildly_Miffed

Aha. Something just stirred in my memory...

This is the Wirral, isn't it? Liverpool to CHester...

Back in 1999, Royal Mail had this to say... "However, to cause as little inconvenience and expense as possible, we will programme our sorting programme to read both old and new postcodes for at least 12 months from that date and possibly longer, if required."
https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/7433189.why-we-are-changing-postcodes-royal-mail/

The old L41-66 postcode areas haven't been reissued (yet?), so the postcodes are simply invalid, rather than actively taking post to the wrong place. But post sent to an L postcode would be routed to the wrong sorting office, in Liverpool, rather than the correct one in Chester, so it will be delayed.