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Original poster

License address

29 replies

easyday · 30/07/2022 14:06

My 18 year old son doesn't live with me, but he can't receive mail where he is or use it as an official address. He needs to replace his driving license and he was going to put my address in but I get a single persons discount on my council tax. He had our old address on it before (when we all lived together and he was under 18). If he uses my address can it be used as 'evidence' that he lives here? His mail (not that he gets much) goes to his work or gets forwarded to me. I'm not looking to avoid tax but he lives 70 miles away but needs an actual address.

OP posts:

Original poster

easyday · 30/07/2022 22:37

Any one?

OP posts:

Em308 · 30/07/2022 23:03

Could he set up a PO box? People use these for a variety of reasons including not wanting to share your private home address.

alexdgr8 · 30/07/2022 23:38

why can't he use his own address.
all sounds a bit dodgy.
what about credit checks etc, anything bad could go against you.
don't start down that road or it could cause unseen problems.
he needs to sort out his own life admin.

Original poster

easyday · 31/07/2022 06:58

Whoa there! He's staying at a place that does not allow mail. My question was simply about my council tax discount, not about his mail. You cannot use a PO address on your licence.
Put it another way. If you had an 18 year old child travelling the world for a year or two could you still legitimately get single persons discount on your council tax even if they used the address on something like a drivers licence? It doesn't look like anyone knows the answer anyway.

OP posts:

Honaloulou · 31/07/2022 07:01

Who runs the place that he lives that doesn't allow mail? That sounds unusual , and I'd be inclined to ask them how to proceed.

Honaloulou · 31/07/2022 07:02

Who runs the place that he lives that doesn't allow mail? That sounds unusual , and I'd be inclined to ask them how to proceed.

savemeagin · 31/07/2022 07:05

Just my opinion because I have no solid knowledge but I would think this would be fine.
I'm assuming he'll have some sort of evidence of where he's living at the moment IF it was ever questioned regarding the council tax.
Surely you can be his permanent home address without living there, like you say in the same way that he would be if travelling the world.

girlmom21 · 31/07/2022 07:28

Can he ask others who live there what address they use for official correspondence? What address does he use for his bank or his work?

Honaloulou · 31/07/2022 07:30

Who runs the place that he lives that doesn't allow mail? That sounds unusual , and I'd be inclined to ask them how to proceed.

Clymene · 31/07/2022 07:38

I can't think a driving licence application would trigger a council tax discount investigation.

I'd let him use your address. Plenty of kids use their parents' address for their licences when they're not actually living there because they're not in any place long enough to change it.

NerrSnerr · 31/07/2022 10:04

I can't imagine this will affect the single person discount but I would find out what others who are staying where he lives do. Some people may not have family who can receive mail (or there may be some Mail that he doesn't want his parents to see) so it would be useful to know if there's a plan b.

Simonjt · 31/07/2022 10:09

Unless he is a student the address on his license must be where he is living.

JudgeRindersMinder · 31/07/2022 10:11

Receiving another person’s mail won’t affect your council tax discount, you’re way overthinking this.
if it puts your mind at rest, have it delivered to your address but as a c/o (care of)

sashh · 31/07/2022 10:22

He can use the address where he is and put a redirect on it.

www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection

Having the wrong address on his licence is a criminal act and he can get a £1000 fine. It also has impact on any car insurance and log book, but I realise he might not actually have a car.

The other option is to contact the DVLA and explain, give his new address but have it sent 'care of': your address.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 31/07/2022 10:38

We’ve used mailboxes etc . Co . Uk for the last 23 years for all our post, including drivers licences etc. perfectly legal. Much safer than a regular address. Just needs to be an address at which you can be contacted. There are arrangements which can be made through them, for this to happen 24/7.

Clymene · 31/07/2022 10:41

Simonjt · 31/07/2022 10:09

Unless he is a student the address on his license must be where he is living.

What if you're travelling and don't have a permanent address? I know lots of vanlifers who live in their vans.

PeppaPigIsAnnoying · 31/07/2022 10:52

If a driving licence is going to be registered to your address that means car insurance will need to be too

If your son is on the electoral role and not registered at your address he needs to be aware of this

A friend of mine tried to take out car insurance at her parent's address but she was on the electoral role at a different address so the car insurance contacted her to ask questions. In the end she didn't take out the policy

BeenthereGotTee · 31/07/2022 10:54

My son used my home address for all his mail as he was living in various places in London on short term lets. I was alone and claiming single person allowance. There was never any comeback.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 31/07/2022 10:54

@Clymene thats where mailboxesetc are used. Same in the boating community. Insurance companies such as LV are happy with the system too.

BarbaraofSeville · 31/07/2022 11:27

I agree about asking the people he is living what the normal procedure is for mail, it can't be the first time this has come up.

Is he registered to vote and if so where?

You could also ask the council what the rule is. Make it clear that he normally lives elsewhere and doesn't contribute to your household but just uses your address for correspondence.

I wouldn't have thought this would cause you to lose your single occupier discount, but it's best to check.

WeAllHaveWings · 31/07/2022 11:36

Surely this is a false address on your driving licence which is illegal. The address on your licence isnt just about where you get mail.

BarbaraofSeville · 31/07/2022 11:55

I googled the question and found an answer from someone from the DVLA in response to a freedom of information request, so can be taken as reliable:

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/drivers_license_with_no_address

Suggests that using a family member's address as a correspondence address is absolutely fine.

PuttingDownRoots · 31/07/2022 11:59

We used PILs address for years when DH was posted abroad with the Army. (And had car insurance and house insurance elsewhere). Banks wanted a UK address too.

LIZS · 31/07/2022 12:01

WeAllHaveWings · 31/07/2022 11:36

Surely this is a false address on your driving licence which is illegal. The address on your licence isnt just about where you get mail.

But if the person has no other UK address(ie student, travelling or working short term) then this is their permanent address. Separate to council tax, electoral roll etc.

LondonQueen · 31/07/2022 12:05

Seems odd that he is living somewhere you can't get mail?

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