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Original poster

Changing to a photo driving licence

58 replies

TeenDivided · 29/07/2022 11:34

DH and I are thinking of changing our old paper based driving licences for photo ID ones.
We don't otherwise have photo id, and we don't like having to take passports to places when it's needed. Our passports need renewing next year and if the current delays continue we could be left for some time with no ID.
The main downside we know about is we'll have to get them renewed every 10 years, but that will only be 2 or 3 times each.

Apart from the cost, is there anything we're missing?

OP posts:
hopeishere · 30/07/2022 07:51

I'm in NI and I don't understand!!! So you've no photo on your licence at all??

Mine (30 years) has always has a paper bit and a photo card.

Original poster
TeenDivided · 30/07/2022 07:58

@hopeishere Yes, no photo at all. Just a bit of pink and green paper, folded into 8 and falling apart at the folds.

(Perhaps with NI's history there was more of a desire/need for photo ID earlier?)

OP posts:
TroysMammy · 30/07/2022 08:02

I've still got a paper licence but my partner has the card. He recently had to renew it but as his passport has expired, and we have no reason at the present time to get it renewed, he had to pay more for a new licence. I think this is totally discriminatory.

Interested in this thread?

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Driving & parking
overitall1 · 30/07/2022 08:19

Take a copy of your paper one before you do I know personally of 2 people who had their m/c allocation removed, in one case it was their only mode of transport. 😳

Oldraver · 30/07/2022 08:27

limitedperiodonly · 29/07/2022 14:15

A young man at a bank advised me that that my paper driving licence wasn't legal and I might get prosecuted if I didn't get a new one. He was only trying to help I suppose but I was annoyed because he was talking crap but he clearly thought I was senile and was making it up as he went along for my own good. Maybe he even believed it but when I asked what happens to people who can't drive so didn't have any kind of licence he said that didn't count.

Anyway, a photo driving licence is good as an acceptable form of photo ID though and it is worth getting one. But I have others so don't need one. I have managed to open bank accounts and stuff and am still not in jail. But maybe that's because the law hasn't caught up with me yet.

OMG don't you hate people like this. I've had a long running argument with the agency I worked for demanding I renewed my passport as the current one wasn't valid. Well yes it isn't valid for travel, but perfectly ok to prove eligibility to work in the UK. I had to point out the relevent Home Office advice, they'd been quite heavy handed and were phoning everyone on their books with the same wrong advice

dementedpixie · 30/07/2022 08:32

LondonQueen · 29/07/2022 13:39

I thought everyone had a photo card these days! I didn't think the paper parts were still valid.

The actual old style paper licences that don't come with a photocard are still valid.

The paper counterpart that you used to get with the photocard is no longer valid and they don't provide them any more.

BarbaraofSeville · 30/07/2022 08:50

hopeishere · 30/07/2022 07:51

I'm in NI and I don't understand!!! So you've no photo on your licence at all??

Mine (30 years) has always has a paper bit and a photo card.

In GB photocard driving licences were introduced at around that time but if you passed your test before then and haven't moved house since, which is when most older drivers get their photocards, you'll still have your old style paper licence and it's still valid, although I don't know what happens if it's no longer legible.

I remember going on a work trip with a colleague who still had a paper licence that he needed to show to hire a car at the airport.

He pulled this raggedy piece of paper out of his wallet that looked like the sort of thing you see museum staff handling with tweezers while wearing gloves.

I’d forgotten that paper licences still existed until I saw that.

Has there been a recent change that means you lose entitlements to drive larger vehicles? I got my last photocard in 2016 and still have trailers, minibuses and small trucks on there.

User639921 · 30/07/2022 10:54

Anyone that passed their test before, I think 1997 had more entitlements for towing, minibuses etc but during Covid these entitlements, not sure if it was all of them, were given to everyone to release space for lorry tests

BlueThursday · 02/08/2022 17:42

I always found it bizarre my mother, who can’t turn right, can’t drive at night or in snow or rain has a licence for a 7.5t vehicle no questions asked

Original poster
TeenDivided · 02/08/2022 17:56

Yes, I can drive a minibus up to 16 people, a 7.5t lorry, and tow.

OP posts:
Sunbird24 · 02/08/2022 18:06

I’ve just renewed my photo card licence as my 10 years are up shortly - the DVLA send you a letter a good 6-8 weeks in advance to let you know, and it was £14 to renew online, or £21.50 if you go into the Post Office to do it. They also used the photo from my passport (which is miraculously a flattering one at the moment!) so it was all really easy.

BelfastSmile · 02/08/2022 18:17

This thread has blown my mind. I'm another one from NI who had no idea that photo licenses weren't standard throughout the uk!

Starseeking · 02/08/2022 20:13

Photo driving licences were introduced in the UK in 1998. I only remember as I turned 18 that year, and was racing with myself to pass my test before I was 18 (failed the day before my birthday at 17, passed 2 weeks later). I recall being part of the first cohort to have them issued.

BelfastSmile · 02/08/2022 21:17

Starseeking · 02/08/2022 20:13

Photo driving licences were introduced in the UK in 1998. I only remember as I turned 18 that year, and was racing with myself to pass my test before I was 18 (failed the day before my birthday at 17, passed 2 weeks later). I recall being part of the first cohort to have them issued.

They were introduced in NI well before that.

Starseeking · 02/08/2022 21:20

Apologies @BelfastSmile, I probably should have said in England, rather than the whole of the UK. Perhaps they introduced them at different times in the individual countries?

BelfastSmile · 02/08/2022 21:23

Starseeking · 02/08/2022 21:20

Apologies @BelfastSmile, I probably should have said in England, rather than the whole of the UK. Perhaps they introduced them at different times in the individual countries?

Yes, I've a feeling NI has a totally separate system. Same for MOT etc.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 02/08/2022 21:33

TeenDivided · 30/07/2022 07:58

@hopeishere Yes, no photo at all. Just a bit of pink and green paper, folded into 8 and falling apart at the folds.

(Perhaps with NI's history there was more of a desire/need for photo ID earlier?)

I remember those (England). They were issued up until the mid 80s I think.

Honkytonky12 · 02/08/2022 21:46

I had to send all my ID off as also needing to change Address and Name and was a really faff. They also do not send the paper licence back now so only have my card which is annoying.

Crocky · 02/08/2022 23:10

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 02/08/2022 21:33

I remember those (England). They were issued up until the mid 80s I think.

Show quote history

I last moved in 1999 and have the paper one.

shinynewapple22 · 02/08/2022 23:52

I'm relieved to see this thread .

I had a feeling that the old paper licences were now illegal and every time I was driving I may get into trouble if stopped . I am a huge procrastinator though and even believing this I still haven't got round to updating my licence to a card one .

Relieved to see I don't actually need to do this !

AlwaysLatte · 02/08/2022 23:55

My husband still has a paper driving licence - he refuses to give in to the card for some reason!

SpikyHatePotato · 03/08/2022 00:20

I still have a paper licence. I refuse to pay for a plastic card, and then pay again and again for renewals.

User639921 · 03/08/2022 06:12

I guess the old paper ones will just phase out naturally as people move house, lose their paper licence like I did, I then re found it after I had paid for a new one, as you do, or want a photo card as handy form of ID as my DH did.

Caspianberg · 03/08/2022 06:18

Those just keeping their license in a drawer, I thought you had to have your license on you if your driving? Ie always in wallet.
What would you do if your pulled over or accident and they ask to see it?

Caspianberg · 03/08/2022 06:20

Seems like it’s just an Eu law

‘’You must always carry your driving licence when driving. If you are stopped and are found not to be carrying your licence, you will be fined.’’