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Original poster

Name change after marriage DVLA

9 replies

jw97 · 27/09/2025 21:58

Could do with some advice as a bit stressed!

I got married in June and still getting through the name change process! I need to update my driving licence and V5C document with DVLA. They ask for original marriage certificate for licence replacement - has anyone sent in the certified copies from the General Register Office? I thought these carried the same weight as the one we received after the wedding, but I’m finding conflicting info online so curious to hear if anyone has successfully done this?

I’m really reluctant to send the true original as I will need to renew my passport in some years and worried it will get lost in the post after hearing horror stories about DVLA, and then I won’t have an original anymore.

Anyone managed to get a replacement original? Not the certified copies, but a replacement of the genuine original with the registrar signature etc?

Thanks!!

OP posts:
Springadorable · 27/09/2025 22:04

Copies cost about £11 I think from the registry office. I had to renew my licence after getting married and it was a total ballache but I did get my certificate back without any issues.

Dreamhigh · 27/09/2025 22:08

My copies of my certificate from the registry office have the registrars signature. It does look different to the original has it's portrait instead of landscape like the original. I use this copy for everything including changing name on my passport etc

Tuttersw18 · 27/09/2025 22:11

I sent in a certified copy a couple of months ago. It was accepted and they posted it back to me.

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Original poster
jw97 · 28/09/2025 08:34

Springadorable · 27/09/2025 22:04

Copies cost about £11 I think from the registry office. I had to renew my licence after getting married and it was a total ballache but I did get my certificate back without any issues.

thank you. Did you send of the original that was sent to you after the wedding, or the copies you got from the registry office?

OP posts:
Original poster
jw97 · 28/09/2025 08:35

Dreamhigh · 27/09/2025 22:08

My copies of my certificate from the registry office have the registrars signature. It does look different to the original has it's portrait instead of landscape like the original. I use this copy for everything including changing name on my passport etc

Interesting! Both mine are portrait but only the original has the signature, the copies have a GRO stamp so have some ‘authenticity’ still

OP posts:
Original poster
jw97 · 28/09/2025 08:35

Tuttersw18 · 27/09/2025 22:11

I sent in a certified copy a couple of months ago. It was accepted and they posted it back to me.

That’s good to know, thank you so much! I think I’ll try sending one of the certified copies and see what happens!

OP posts:
Springadorable · 28/09/2025 09:05

jw97 · 28/09/2025 08:34

thank you. Did you send of the original that was sent to you after the wedding, or the copies you got from the registry office?

Show quote history

Yes the original. It was such a faff getting the forms from the specific post office and physical photos I didn't want anything to hold it up

Tuttersw18 · 28/09/2025 14:20

There's a difference between copies certified by - say - the post office (where they sign a photocopy to certify they've seen the original) and - a certified copy provided when you get married (that you have to pay for - they ask how many copies you want). So dvla won't accept the photocopied and stamped certified copies from say the post office but they will accept the certified copies from the originating body (eg registry office) because those are actual certificates.

Original poster
jw97 · 28/09/2025 14:33

Tuttersw18 · 28/09/2025 14:20

There's a difference between copies certified by - say - the post office (where they sign a photocopy to certify they've seen the original) and - a certified copy provided when you get married (that you have to pay for - they ask how many copies you want). So dvla won't accept the photocopied and stamped certified copies from say the post office but they will accept the certified copies from the originating body (eg registry office) because those are actual certificates.

Thank you so much! That makes sense, thank you!

OP posts:
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