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Original poster

Expired driving licence

82 replies

BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 04:53

I’ve also posted in legal .
Hi please can anyone offer any advice .
earlier in the week I was involved in a non fault accident . I am a named driver on my husbands insurance .
We have only recently bought the car which is on hire purchase .
Whilst gathering our documents to send to the insurance company I have noticed that my licence has expired 2 1/2 years ago .
i am so angry at myself for overlooking this .
i understand that I will be not insured and will deal with the fallout , but are the insurance company likely to void my partners insurance altogether because of my stupidity.

OP posts:
NotTerfNorCis · 21/10/2023 07:22

There was a similar thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/legal_matters/4602686-help-my-license-has-expired

People were saying that strictly speaking the licence hadn't expired, just the photo.

Original poster
BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 07:33

Hi thankyou @NotTerfNorCis for your reply . I have read through that thread . Unfortunately I was the one that was driving at the time time ( un aware that my licence was invalid) It’s my partners policy and hoping that they will still pay him out and not cancel his insurance altogether.

OP posts:
NigelHarmansNewWife · 21/10/2023 07:36

The photo card has expired, not your actual driving licence. It shouldn't affect the insurance claim, but you could be fined by DVLA for not updating your photo in time. Prioritise updating the photo card.

Original poster
BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 07:49

@NigelHarmansNewWife thank you I am sending off for my new licence this morning . Having just checked my emails the insurance company have requested both my partners driving history via on online code . My partners is showing all good mine is saying invalid . Really am starting to stress over my stupid mistake now .

OP posts:
AmandasFleckerl · 21/10/2023 08:08

Unless you’re saying that you have some kind of medical stop on your licence that you have to refer or you’re 70+ you have a licence, it’s just the photo that’s expired.
Check the insurance policy rather than relying upon the call centre worker at the insurance company. It should be fine just check the documentation.

Santaiscomingsoon · 21/10/2023 08:10

I know someone who was caught speeding and had the same issue. They updated their driving license abs got it back within a week all updated ready to be sorted. I would send it off now and get it back asap.

CornishTiger · 21/10/2023 08:12

Do it all online ahd it’ll be back within a week.

Original poster
BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 08:21

@CornishTiger i can’t do it on line I have no valid passport it’s my photo that is out of date . I’m hoping the post office do a check and send service .

OP posts:
Original poster
BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 08:22

This is a no fault accident where my car has been towed .

OP posts:
loseweightpleasegod · 21/10/2023 08:25

Just stall and say you can’t find your license if they hassle you then say technical issues. Insurance companies are so slow with so many claims they may not even notice. Don’t admit you know your license has expired. Be vague.

ohtowinthelottery · 21/10/2023 08:27

Certain designated post offices can do it all online for you, including taking the photo. You usually get your renewed licence back pretty quickly if you do it that way. Pretty sure Google will tell you the participating PO near you. Not sure if you need a passport to do this or not as it's 9 1/2 years since I last did this but will be using the service again shortly!

stopringingme · 21/10/2023 08:36

When I renewed mine at the post office I got it back in less than a week.

I don't have a passport and it was really straightforward.

You have to look online to see which post offices offer the service as not all do.

Original poster
BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 08:42

@stopringingme thank you for your reply . They have given me until the 27 th October to send all details before they start to cancel the insurance . I really am beside myself with worry .

OP posts:
Original poster
BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 08:44

Sorry @stopringingme didnt mean to tag you .

OP posts:
Original poster
BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 08:49

@AmandasFleckerl insurance company are being thorough they want both mine and my partners driving history mine is saying is invalid licence my partners has valid licence The problem is that I was the driver in this accident my partner wasn’t involved .
sorry if I’m rambling I’m a wreck over this . I rely on the car some days for work . Which I’m/was insured for on the policy .

OP posts:
HelpMeGetThrough · 21/10/2023 08:55

Have a read of this, makes interesting reading. It was only a quick google, so you may want to do more.

lawplainandsimple.com/has-your-driving-licence-really-expired/

OldTinHat · 21/10/2023 08:58

The Post Office certainly can do the photo and send it off for you. I used their service when I noticed mine had expired. I got the new one back in a week.

AmandasFleckerl · 21/10/2023 09:52

BatFastard1 · 21/10/2023 08:49

@AmandasFleckerl insurance company are being thorough they want both mine and my partners driving history mine is saying is invalid licence my partners has valid licence The problem is that I was the driver in this accident my partner wasn’t involved .
sorry if I’m rambling I’m a wreck over this . I rely on the car some days for work . Which I’m/was insured for on the policy .

Try not to panic. What I meant was look at the terms of the policy as it should tell you what would invalidate a claim.

Fahbeep · 21/10/2023 10:15

It is was it is. Send on the documents and the chips fall where they fall.

HappyKatieA · 21/10/2023 10:15

When I had realised mine had expired, as soon as I had been through the checking process at the post office it triggered something in the system and the insurance could see it on their online system.
However, I will caveat that by saying I did this during Covid times, so it may have been different?

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 21/10/2023 10:23

Reading the link by @HelpMeGetThrough shows that your licence has not expired but you may have to fight it. Very useful link there @HelpMeGetThrough, thanks!

HelpMeGetThrough · 21/10/2023 10:26

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 21/10/2023 10:23

Reading the link by @HelpMeGetThrough shows that your licence has not expired but you may have to fight it. Very useful link there @HelpMeGetThrough, thanks!

No problem. I was surprised when I read it.

Have been watching motorway cops over the last year and by the looks of it, all have them have been getting it wrong when stopping drivers, according to the article.

Shade17 · 21/10/2023 10:39

Just deal with the third party’s insurer direct. Tell your insurer that’s what you’re doing and that you’re only informing them of the incident.

HelpMeGetThrough · 21/10/2023 10:45

Shade17 · 21/10/2023 10:39

Just deal with the third party’s insurer direct. Tell your insurer that’s what you’re doing and that you’re only informing them of the incident.

That's a bonkers idea, let the insurance companies fight it out.

CatSat · 21/10/2023 11:03

As others have said, your photo has expired not your licence. When you apply to renew the photo it specifically says you are still allowed to drive whilst waiting for the replacement card. It may take 3 weeks to get it back.

In the meantime, you can get a driving licence check code (the code you hand over to your employers or car hire place that allows them to see the details on your licence without having to hand over the actual card).

Normally you can complete a form online and get the code. For me the online thing has never worked so every year when I need the code for my employer I have to phone up DVLA and speak to someone in real life and they then tell me the code over the phone. You should be able to do this and it should all be fine.