Why can’t I renew my driving license online?

[TobeLeRone]

I’ve tried twice now, all details correct, my passport is brand new (too new?), but my details can’t be verified and I have to spend more money now as I have to drive to a post office to pick up the correct form and post it.
Online is cheaper.

Me too! At first I thought my passport was too new, so I waited a fortnight, but still the same problem?

How strange
www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIobD1osuu_QIVC4BQBh3hFANOEAAYASAAEgLg9PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Are you using the .gov link?

Yes, I’ve followed all instructions, double checked every number etc, it won’t work!

I’ve also realised I don’t have a cheque book, so I’m wondering if that’ll mean I have to spend more money and do it at a post office!

I struggled with mine for ages. In my case the “do not recognise you” message was because I’d entered myself as Ms nor Mrs (having got divorced in the meantime). So even though my name, address, dob, NI number, passport number, driving licence number and everything else was identical, it failed to recognise me because of Ms / Mrs. Ludicrous.

So moral of the story, check every character as even an extra space could make the difference.

And incidentally if I now want to become Ms officially, I have to pay again for a name change 🙄

I had the same. Tried it over and over, would not do it. All correct, nothing typed wrong or different etc. I just did it with the form and accepted the extra faff and money because at that point I'd been driving on an expired licence for well over a year.

What browser are you using? Try using a different one.

I had the same and it was because it didn’t like an apostrophe in one of my names eg instead of O’Brien I had to type Obrien. I had to phone them up to find this out. Frustrating!

You can download the forms on the
gov .com site I think it’s D1

on the plus side I did my sons change of address with the paper form and it came back in just over a week

I put the NI number in without spaces, wonder if that’s it!

I had the same thing but with my passport - all details correct but couldn't verify. Called the helpline & even they admitted they had no idea why it wouldn't work, so had to find a PO that did them & pay extra 🙄

My partner was born outside the UK and as their original licence was from a Commonwealth country we have to go through this stupid rigmarole every single time even though they're a British citizen and passed a full British test. Almost everything else government related is so straightforward compared. The DVLA is in a timewarp.

When they implemented these digital platforms they over complicated it. Why does it matter if you are Ms, Mrs or Miss?

Ive had a very hard time renewing my passport. I’m spending $10k to take my 3 children back to the UK to do a same day appointment. It’s ridiculously complicated now it’s all online and ‘computer said no’ is a legitimate answer because staff have not been empowered to employ common sense. I feel very sorry for the staff and can only imagine the abuse hurled at them by very frustrated people who can get something basic completed. Thankfully I have another two passports I can travel on so I’m not reliant on the passport office.

Well, tried again, no joy!

Applying for a passport was easier than this.
I have found a DVLA helpline so I’ll try them next week.
It’s annoying, I’d budgeted for £14 for online, now it’s going to cost £21

Doesn't help with the price difference OP but if you do need to fill in a paper form you can order 1 to be sent to your house.

I had to do mine at the post office as I don’t have a passport, it was extra cost because it was post office and extra cost for a postal order.

It’s like being penalised for being too poor for a passport.

I had the same issue! Very bloody annoying. Had to go to the Post Office in the area end of now where and pay extra for the pleasure.

Try using the online chat service that they have.

I sent my driving license and the form off to change my name 2 weeks ago - I got it back today saying that they have misplaced the photo card so I need to pay to replace that first!?

I tried to call and was on hold for 15 minutes then it randomly disconnected 😤 although the online chat was helpful

Having the same issue.

I renewed my driving licence online last week, using the passport that had literally just arrived, it it all went through first time with no problems, so it does work sometimes...

I had the same. Tried a bunch of times to no avail and then had to forage about finding a post office that was doing driving license renewals. Total ball ache! I assumed it was because last time I renewed I just carried my photo over with out renewing the picture itself, and as much as I hate to admit it, 42 year old me now no longer looks the same as 22 year old me!

I too couldn't renew my DL as it couldn't find my address, found my road but not the house name .

I did mine in October and couldn’t get it to work, even though my passport was mid-way through it’s 10 year lifespan. I ended up phoning them up because I had to do the renewal and an address change at the same time. They were really good on the phone and we worked it out. I think if it had been online only I’d have had to go through the long postal process. As it was, over the phone with a nice guy working from home, I got my new license in 5 days.

Also they ask you to send your old one back. I checked with them after I got my new one (different call handler.) I explained I wanted to cut it up before I posted it back because I was worried if it went missing about ID theft etc. He said not to send it back and he just put a note on my file that I had confirmed that I destroyed it. So I feel safe knowing my old drivers license isn’t floating around out these, and I took a photo of it cut up just in case I’m ever asked about it.

My daughter did hers last night online. It worked fine once she remembered that her current licence included her middle name.