Driving licence expired - who knew?

[desperatetostaypositive]

Got my driving licence out (for ID verification) and ds was looking at it and told me it's expired
I'm 52. I've just looked online and it needs renewing (easy to do online and with a little extra time allowed due to Covid ) but is this common knowledge? I didn't think you had to renew it until you were 70 or so

I held out on the paper one for as long as I could. It’s a complete swizz. I don’t think you can go back to paper only once you’ve had a photo card....it’s pay every 10 years now.

It's just the photo - but you should've received a form from DVLA to either renew online with current passport photo or with paper form and new attached photo.

Yep I knew, super easy to do online if you have a passport. Just did mine and it came back within a few days.

There is no paper counterpart any more but the photo needs renewing every 10 years. I need to renew mine at the end of next month and got a letter in the post to remind me

Yes. You need a new card every 10 years so you have a new photo. Keep in mind the expiry date is 10 years after the first licence you had with that photo. If you change address (which is free), you'll get a new licence with your new address and the date it was issued, but the expiry date will be the same as on the old licence!

According to some motoring lawyers an expired photocard does not mean you are driving unlicenced. The expired photocard is a different offence that carries a fine but not penalty points. It's something police often get wrong and seize cars for though, and many drivers have accepted guilt rather than fighting their case.

www.fleetnews.co.uk/blog/entry/legislation-expired-photos-do-not-invalidate-driving-licences/46025/

@Whatafool123

Mine too OP. I got a letter though but I left it (as usual). Now it expires today and I can't do it online because they want a new photo. You may be the same.

If you have a passport they can use the photo from that

That's completely true @safariboot

You'll see two dates on the licence. One for when you're 70 and one for ten years.

Mine expired last year, only realised because they sent me a reminder. I thought it would till I was 70.

If you change address (which is free), you'll get a new licence with your new address and the date it was issued, but the expiry date will be the same as on the old licence!

Of course it will! Because they don't change the photo when they change the address. The entire purpose of the 10 yr renewal is to make sure the photo is sufficiently current.

At least you only have to do yours every 10 years, I’m on a 3 year license as I’m a type 1 diabetic. Thankfully DVLA are good with reminders because it catches me out every time.

I actually just changed my address on my license and the new one arrived within 3 days so hopefully it won’t take long, especially if your passport is valid.

My mum only found hers has had expired in September 2020 when she needed it as ID at solicitors in the October & they couldn't accept it. When we checked online, due to covid they gave everyone an 11 month extension due to not being able to process them all so hers is extended to August 2021.

I didn't know till a couple of years ago when I was in a minor accident and had to show it to the police. oops
-still in maiden name (been married 15 years)

• ancient address so no reminders
• photo doesn't need updating as I haven't changed a bit in 20 years obviously

I clocked this when renewing insurance and having to declare a speeding fine. I’d been driving round on an expired licence for a fortnight. 😳

Yes since they brought in the photo ones so for over 20 years now! Was publicised at the time and assuming you have a photo one, it's clearly written on your licence!

Ps you can easily renew via the internet, you don't need to use a post office but if like us your have moved, use a laptop or tablet if possible because the site has very small text on your phone!

I knew, I left it about five years last time it went out of date, nothing happened.

I didn't know this ... better check mine in the morning

@PickleSarnie

The paper licence isn't valid now and your plastic licence expires every 10 years. Although there's been a 6 month extension (dependent on when your licence expires) because of Covid

Green paper licences are still valid. It's the paper counterparts of photo cards that were scrapped.

I had been driving for years and had moved address. I was stopped at a checkpoint and the officer asked where I was going. I said that I was going home and he said but your home is that way (the way I had come from). I said, ye, I don't live there anymore. He then informed me that it was an offence not to have updated my driving licence address. First I knew about it! Lol. He waved me on and put me down as being an idiot I presume but I genuinely did not know that you had to update your driving licence every time you moved!

The other thing that often catches people out is when you move house you need to update your driving licence and your V5C separately. The address on the V5C is what speeding NIPs and parking charges go to and if you don't receive and respond to them you can get in significant legal trouble.

@VanGoghsDog

I knew, I left it about five years last time it went out of date, nothing happened.

Nothing happens until you get stopped at a checkpoint!

I knew.

I have to renew mine yearly. Its a fucking pain in the arse.

@ThebirdsAndBeesWhereThere

I knew.

I have to renew mine yearly. Its a fucking pain in the arse.

Why yearly? I just panicked and checked mine (changed jurisdictions last year) and it's from 2020 to 2030.

I was of the opinion that once you passed your driving test and got a license, that was it, off you go until you're 70 and need an eyesight test or something. I had no idea that there was an expiry date these days (there never was years ago?).

They don't teach you this shit!