DVLA and paper licences

TooManyPoints

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.

I don't believe anybody has a digital licence in the UK yet (though a pilot scheme is planned for later this year, I believe). Only  photocard ones or paper versions are available.

In any case, it is not not necessary for either to be submitted for endorsement.

Photocard DLs were first issued in 1998 and they were accompanied by a paper counterpart (similar to the old paper-only DL). The issuing of counterparts was discontinued in 2015 and they were no longer valid. Up to that time it was necessary to submit a licence for endorsement when accepting a fixed penalty involving points and drivers were required to hand in their licence if they were sentenced to points in court.

All that ended in 2015 and offence details are now recorded electronically.

Since no paper licences have been issued since 1998, nobody born after 1982 will have one. This means that, unless the government changes he law to make paper licences obsolete, they will still be around until 2052. But anyone issued with a paper licence just before they were discontinued must have lived at the same address and not have been disqualified from driving for 56 days or more, or have had their licence revoked in order to maintain a valid paper licence.

Okell

Spivved1987 said:

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......

Personally I wouldn't fret about it, but if you are concerned wny don't you check your DL details here:  View or share your driving licence information - GOV.UK

You'll need to input your DL number*, your NI number AND your post code.

If you input the wrong post code it will return THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE PROVIDED

If you input the correct post code it will return your licence details, including your address and post code.

If you want to renew your licence to a photocard (either because you would like an additional form of photo ID or because the DVLA have got the wrong post code) I'd simply renew and if you need to give a reason say you want an additional form of photo ID.

I believe you are meant to surrender your old paper licence (unless you are renewing because you lost it) but I don't know if you actually have to do that. 


*I'm assuming the format of the DL number on an old paper licence is the same as on the current photocard licence   ie AAAAAnnnnnnAAnAA

Okell

TooManyPoints said:

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.

... But anyone issued with a paper licence just before they were discontinued must have lived at the same address and not have been disqualified from driving for 56 days or more, or have had their licence revoked in order to maintain a valid paper licence.

This was my wife's situation up to a couple of years ago when she wanted a more convenient form of photoID than lugging her passport around and got a photocard licence

Mildly_Miffed

Okell said:

*I'm assuming the format of the DL number on an old paper licence is the same as on the current photocard licence   ie AAAAAnnnnnnAAnAA

It is.

First five letters of surname, padded with 9 if necessary.
DOB jumbled, YMMDDY with 5 added to second digit if female.
Two initials (or only initial then 9) followed by three check digits.

The driver number is the actual unique key to your driver record. The licence itself is just a handy representation of it.

user1977

Presumably for this offence to be prosecuted the police would have come to your door, proving that they weren't confused by the postcode...?

Barkin

TooManyPoints said:

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.

I don't believe anybody has a digital licence in the UK yet (though a pilot scheme is planned for later this year, I believe). Only  photocard ones or paper versions are available.

In any case, it is not not necessary for either to be submitted for endorsement.

Photocard DLs were first issued in 1998 and they were accompanied by a paper counterpart (similar to the old paper-only DL). The issuing of counterparts was discontinued in 2015 and they were no longer valid. Up to that time it was necessary to submit a licence for endorsement when accepting a fixed penalty involving points and drivers were required to hand in their licence if they were sentenced to points in court.

All that ended in 2015 and offence details are now recorded electronically.

Hmmm. I've an SP30/3 points recorded on my paper licence from 2021.

I wouldn't have submitted it for endorsement were I not required to. 🤔

TooManyPoints

I wouldn't have submitted it for endorsement were I not required to. 🤔

It doesn't really matter. You must declare it to anybody with a reason to ask (e.g. insurers, employers, etc.) whether it is shown on your licence or not. It becomes inactive for "totting up" purposes three years after the date of the offence, it is no longer shown on your driving record after four years and need not be declared to anybody (unless an exception under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act applies) after five.

Barkin

TooManyPoints said:

I wouldn't have submitted it for endorsement were I not required to. 🤔

It doesn't really matter. You must declare it to anybody with a reason to ask (e.g. insurers, employers, etc.) whether it is shown on your licence or not. It becomes inactive for "totting up" purposes three years after the date of the offence, it is no longer shown on your driving record after four years and need not be declared to anybody (unless an exception under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act applies) after five.

I know that, but it's not really relevant.

I was simply questioning your statement that since 2015 you're not required to submit your licence.

If I weren't required to in 2021 I wouldn't have, and my paper licence wouldn't have the SP30 recorded on it.

TooManyPoints

If I weren't required to in 2021 I wouldn't have, and my paper licence wouldn't have the SP30 recorded on it.

Yup, my fault.

The requirement to submit a licence that ended in 2015 only applied to endorsements ordered by a court.

The requirement to submit a licence for endorsement resulting from a fixed penalty continued until 30/11/22.

Thanks for he correction.

Spivved1987

Mildly_Miffed said:

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.

Bingo! Excellent detective work.