Just landed on holiday.... Drivers license expired!

[HangingOver]

Just touched down I'm Denmark, gone to rent the car and DP just realised his license photo-card has expired. Public transport not an option due to location as where we're staying requires a car. I only have provisional license.

Any one got any experience? Worth begging the DVLA?

Has the rental company refused him?

How long are you staying?

I doubt the DVLA are going to zip you over a new licence by the time your holiday ends. There isn’t a fast track service for the general public I’m afraid.
Are you able to change your accommodation?

Ah what a shame OP. You're going to need to change location I think.

Begging the DVLA what? They aren’t going to issue a new licence and courier it out there today.

Can it not be renewed online?

Sorry to be gloomy, but I think in those circs you may be stuffed.

Normal turn round time is 2 weeks for a straightforward online renewal. It's always worth ringing and begging on the grounds you might strike lucky. Does the company need to see the actual licence, or are they one with a British presence who can check online?

Has he had the notice to renew?

Has the rental company refused him?

Yep. Only realised at the desk. Obviously I know they aren't going to send us a new lisence here He's trying to renew it online now... Not sure whether a confirmation it's been renewed would be enough or not. I suspect not. Heartbroken. He was supposed to be competing for England in a massive sporting event and was so excited 😓

Public transport then a taxi may be the best option.

Does the company need to see the actual licence, or are they one with a British presence who can check online?

It's Hertz, they're everywhre arent they? Worth a shot I reckon. Urgh. Will let you know how we get on. So sad for him.

Oh dear. How upsetting.

It can but DVLA aren't going to courier it over to Denmark

Call his coach. If he's competing for England, you'd hope they would find a way of getting him there?

Are you willing to say where you are and where you need to get to? Someone may be able to suggest a solution

Public transport and taxis or something like that.

Not great however I would be pointing out to the car hire people that it’s
not his actual licence that’s expired it’s the photo part. Dvla ought to be able to explain that he is legally entitled to drive- I think?
i still have a paper licence somewhere which afaik never expires.
happy to be corrected.

Exactly this, there’s a big difference between a licence being expired and a photo card expiry.

You cannot drive with an expired licence in the UK, but you can drive with an expired photocard

Ok...back in the queue. We'll see what happens. Thanks everyone.

I've rented a car with an expired photo card before, in Germany. The hire company took the expiry date on the back. Apparently its just a British thing?

That was pre Brexit though.

When do licences expire? I thought they were valid until you were 70.

Indeed the agent might well not understand that your actual licence is still valid -
in eu countries I think the actual licence expires periodically which it does not in the UK

Yes sorry as others have said it's the photo-card that expired a couple of weeks ago. No there wasn't a renewal notice for some reason o he'd have done it immediately. It's usually me that's useless with this stuff not him!

Photo licences expire every ten years - it's because your image could change a lot over this time.

The back should show the end of entitlement for each class.