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Original poster

Driving licence expired help!

79 replies

BuritoCat · 10/02/2022 11:47

Just reliezed my driving licence is 3 years out of bloody date!!!
I haven't been driving for two years but that's not the point. I feel so stupid. It's a photo ID card, will I have to pay the £1,000 fine and retake my test?
I'm devastated at how stupid I've been! Sat in tears, never received a reminder and it's been shoved in my purse and never needed. BlushSad
I'm going to the post office this afternoon to get the forms and have my photo done and immediately send it off.

OP posts:
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 10/02/2022 13:53

[quote BuritoCat]@daimbarsatemydogsbone I did think that! It's not a proper post office to be fair it's in a phone shop so there advice is a bit dodgy but I believe they're correct about the insurance.[/quote]
They are correct about the insurance - since you have entitlement to drive, your insurance is not affected. The previous poster was just posting bollocks as so often happens on threads like these.

Justkeeppedaling · 10/02/2022 13:52

The govt extended the deadline for updating driving licences that expired over the last couple of Covid ridden years. Not sure if that's lifted or not now, but you've reminded me to renew mine as it expired a while ago.

The paper copy is still valid, so you can still drive - I know because I used mine to hire a car a while ago.

Original poster
BuritoCat · 10/02/2022 13:51

@daimbarsatemydogsbone I did think that! It's not a proper post office to be fair it's in a phone shop so there advice is a bit dodgy but I believe they're correct about the insurance.

OP posts:
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 10/02/2022 13:50

[quote BuritoCat]@mistermagpie told me I can "legally" drive as I don't turn 70 for another 40 odd years but if stopped by police I might get into trouble for not having it on me, until DVLA confirm they have my application so I'm best waiting. [/quote]
if stopped by police I might get into trouble for not having it on me
Unlike a lot of other countries there is no legal requirement to have your licence "on you" to drive in the UK.

mistermagpie · 10/02/2022 13:50

[quote BuritoCat]@mistermagpie told me I can "legally" drive as I don't turn 70 for another 40 odd years but if stopped by police I might get into trouble for not having it on me, until DVLA confirm they have my application so I'm best waiting. [/quote]
Ah fair enough, technically true, but you don't need to wait til you receive the new licence if you have submitted the application. As long as you have applied you can drive unless you are medically told not to or your circumstances change like that.

Original poster
BuritoCat · 10/02/2022 13:50

@inheritancetrack

Don't drive until it's renewed otherwise you are not insured. I believe they accept it being in the post but as you haven't had an official one for 3 years I would not risk this. I wouldn't say anything. It wasn't deliberate, a fraud and you haven't had an accident, so don't risk a fine. Once you have it it's all ok anyway.
Doesn't invalidate your insurance, post office just told me!
OP posts:
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 10/02/2022 13:49

@inheritancetrack

Don't drive until it's renewed otherwise you are not insured. I believe they accept it being in the post but as you haven't had an official one for 3 years I would not risk this. I wouldn't say anything. It wasn't deliberate, a fraud and you haven't had an accident, so don't risk a fine. Once you have it it's all ok anyway.
Don't drive until it's renewed otherwise you are not insured.

Total bollocks.

Original poster
BuritoCat · 10/02/2022 13:48

@mistermagpie told me I can "legally" drive as I don't turn 70 for another 40 odd years but if stopped by police I might get into trouble for not having it on me, until DVLA confirm they have my application so I'm best waiting.

OP posts:
SprintingAtlas · 10/02/2022 13:47

Don't panic OP - DVLA have got too much else to be dealing with at the moment!

I misplaced my licence and it was coming up for renewal anyway. I requested a new one on the Monday and had the new licence in the post on Wednesday!

inheritancetrack · 10/02/2022 13:45

Say you lost your old license as they want it returned

inheritancetrack · 10/02/2022 13:44

Don't drive until it's renewed otherwise you are not insured. I believe they accept it being in the post but as you haven't had an official one for 3 years I would not risk this. I wouldn't say anything. It wasn't deliberate, a fraud and you haven't had an accident, so don't risk a fine. Once you have it it's all ok anyway.

mistermagpie · 10/02/2022 13:44

@BuritoCat

Okay done it at the post office. Looking at 3 months to get it back and before I can drive again.

But it's done so what a relief. 😂
I'm not being dramatic it's scary what you read on the internet until you check with actual people.

You can drive now, you don't have to wait for the new one? Did they tell you that at the post office?

The DVLA told me I'm legally entitled to drive on my expired licence, which I've been doing for months. You don't need to physically carry a licence to drive in this country either.

mistermagpie · 10/02/2022 13:41

@Auntieobem

You'd only get fined if you are caught driving with an expired licence. If its more than 3 years out of date you might have to retake your test
This isn't true.
Original poster
BuritoCat · 10/02/2022 13:40

Okay done it at the post office. Looking at 3 months to get it back and before I can drive again.

But it's done so what a relief. 😂
I'm not being dramatic it's scary what you read on the internet until you check with actual people.

OP posts:
mistermagpie · 10/02/2022 13:40

@BuritoCat

Thanks everyone so let me get this right my licence is fine just my photo I'd is out of date? I obviously won't drive until I get my new one but still I panic with stuff like this I'm not good with paperwork. 🤦🏻‍♀️
I'm in the same boat, mines expired but somehow the postcode is wrong on it so I can't renew it online or at the post office and nobody will help me... BUT I phoned them and they said I'm still perfectly legal to drive, it's just the photo that needs renewed so I've given up panicking!
mugoftea456 · 10/02/2022 13:29

You are being very very dramatic.

Just renew it online. Depending on your passport expiry they can just use that picture.

Mine was about 2 years out of date and nothing happened at all

ChipButtyCurrySauce · 10/02/2022 13:11

Just checked mine....expires in august!! Wouldn't have thought to look if it wasn't for this post! 😆

ChipButtyCurrySauce · 10/02/2022 13:09

I was driving with an expired license a few years back. Think it was well over a year out. I just applied for a new one online and it arrived a few days later. No fine or mention of it.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 10/02/2022 13:03

These are all nothing! Mine had expired about 8 years previously. All sorted within a few months (DVLA backlog) with no fine or issue whatsoever. Don’t worry - it really doesn’t matter.

Jijithecat · 10/02/2022 12:58

I wouldn't worry too much. Lots of people had expired photo cards during the pandemic and the government granted an extension for several months because of the difficulties people had in getting their photo taken. I'd just get your renewal done as soon as possible.

babyjellyfish · 10/02/2022 12:50

Can I just say I lost my old licence? Will they really want it back? I'm worrying incase they reliese

I wouldn't do that OP. They will know your photo is out of date anyway from their computer system.

Just send off for a replacement. It's very unlikely anything will happen. You certainly won't need to retake your test.

I'm pretty sure the police are the ones with the authority to fine you anyway, not the DVLA, so you would only get fined if you are stopped by the police and they see your photo is out of date.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 10/02/2022 12:48

You don't need a physical licence to drive in the UK - in the olden days Police would give you a "producer" if you didn't have it on you and you could take it and show the surly desk copper within 7 days.
Now they have all the records online they can call up - they will show you have valid entitlement to drive.

thelittlestrhino · 10/02/2022 12:41

Mine was far more out of date than yours! I had a panic too, but sent the form/old card in and £20 and a few days later my shiny new card arrived.

captainmajor · 10/02/2022 12:39

I just renewed mine when I realised , nothing happened

DobbyTheHouseElk · 10/02/2022 12:29

Heck, I didn’t know they expired.