Madmaggott Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Just arrived back home from extended holiday in France, refreshed and ready for anything. Except I wasn't expecting letters from DVLA telling us that our driving licence photos have to be renewed (at a cost of £20!) Now we were aware that my OH would have to renew every 5 years when he gets to his 70th birthday but that's a while away yet. Question: Is this photo renewal a compulsory thing or can we choose to just have the paper licence? If so how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I think once they have 'caught' you on the photo licence then you will have no alternative to renewing every 10years, I had to get replacement licence couple of years back for lost one and there was no alternative to photo licence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmaggott Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 Thanks Colin, but ours are 5 years old not ten! Got it! We had to send them for the address to be altered 5 years ago so I suppose technically that wasn't a renewal, so perhaps the old renewal date still applies? Robdogs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 hubby will have to renew every 3 years when he gets to 70, not neccesary to change photo, we didn't and have renewed twice since reaching our three score years and 10 PJAy from a vry hot sunny Spain in Andalusia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 What's a photocard licence? I've carefully preserved my licence from when we moved here just over 13 years ago, so it's one of the last thype of the one-piece ones. I suppose they'll catch up with me eventually, but hopefully not until next time we change address (whenever that might be!). It expires when I'm 70, but we'll have moved before then anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Had to renew my photo card this year, went to main post office, they will take your photo while you wait (your photo has to meet certain standards, get it wrong get it returned) they check everything is correct, send it off and it was returned within a week. cost around £25.00 in total including licence fee, if you use a booth for your photo, that costs around a fiver on its own, just for the pictures and there is no guarantee that the photo will be accepted, do it check and send, and it's not right, they do it again with no further cost to you. If you don't have it done and get stopped, you can be done for having no licence, I only found out by chance, thought it was a one off photo. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread24800 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Move to France, Exchange License (free), still ok for a car/ car+Trailer, Motorhome up to 3.5T M/c to 125cc and no need to renew at 70!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blizzard Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Madmaggott - 2011-06-15 10:19 AMWe had to send them for the address to be altered 5 years ago so I suppose technically that wasn't a renewal, so perhaps the old renewal date still applies? That's correct - Its the photocard that has to be updated so that the image remains a relative likeness. The renewal date is from the original date of issue and not any subsequent amendments such as name changes, address changes or penalty point removals.I wish I'd been farsighted enough to have kept my old paper licence. Ken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 If you have a passport with a less than 5 year old photo you can apply online and for £20 they will reissue a new driving license using the passport photo thus saving you the need for a new photo, or traipsing into a post office, or the extra fiver they want for taking a photo, or any postage, and even walking to a post box to post the application! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmaggott Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 Tracker - 2011-06-15 2:54 PMIf you have a passport with a less than 5 year old photo you can apply online and for £20 they will reissue a new driving license using the passport photo thus saving you the need for a new photo, or traipsing into a post office, or the extra fiver they want for taking a photo, or any postage, and even walking to a post box to post the application! Yes, I've now done that with mine. Slight problem with hubby's renewal though; his passport is more than 5 years old so can't renew on-line. And, after sorting out the 2 carrier bags of post when we got back home, I shredded the unwanted paperwork with addresses etc on; trouble is instead of shredding the 2 welsh versions of the renewal as I intended, I actually shredded both copies of his renewal! So ............ I've got both versions of the renewal form for me but don't need them as I did it online, but no form for him so had to order a D1 pack. Ok daft I know; but I was very tired!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 And I thought you said you were refreshed and ready for anything! except the British system!! I've got to renew both our passports, now thats going to hurt. We still use our old pink and green driving licences, 5+ years to renewal for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmaggott Posted June 15, 2011 Author Share Posted June 15, 2011 Thanks for the help everyone. Now I've just got to renew the electricity contract, the van insurance, the car insurance and find an ISA to move to now the fixed term has ended!!!! Oh, nearly forgot; 2 tax returns to complete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Madmaggott - 2011-06-15 5:23 PMThanks for the help everyone.Now I've just got to renew the electricity contract, the van insurance, the car insurance and find an ISA to move to now the fixed term has ended!!!! Oh, nearly forgot; 2 tax returns to complete. You'll need another holiday after that lot B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilf Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Am I right in saying that only the photocard licence is acceptable for driving in other countries and the old style paper licence is valid only in the UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 No. The old style paper licence is valid in most countries that a photocard one is. A small number of countries insist on a photocard licence, or an International Driving Permit to accompany your paper licence. e.g. Slovenia, where I visited last year. For some countries, any UK licence will not be acceptable, and an IDP is required. The Foreign Motoring section of the AA website is where I usually check, and "reverse engineering" of the information held on the following page will give you the lowdown. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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