To find the DVLA bastard ridiculous?

[WelshMaenad]

I am filling in a CRB form for my new job, and need my driving licence number, apparently. Except I can't find my driving licence.

It's ok, I think, I've been without it when hiring a car before and they just rang and got my driving licence number. I'll phone the nice bods at the DVLA.

Except when I ring I am told that 'changes to security protocol' mean they will not give me my own driving licence number even if I can prove my identy by answering security questions. Neither can I get it froma DVLA office. All I can do is send off for a replacement licence and hope they send it to me some time in the next decade.

What the actual fucking fuck???

[bureni]

whats the paper part, never heard of a paper part only?

[scurryfunge]

The old ones- before plastic photo cards.

[Woozley]

I store my licence safely with my passport, i.e. not carrying it with me when I'm driving. If you are stopped by the police and give them your name and address surely they can run and check to see if you have a licence? They do on the TV anyway!

[Woozley]

Run a check I meant, not run to Swansea to check

[MrsKeithRichards]

Lucky you! Is it right if you've never had a photo card you don't need to update but if you've got one it costs £20 every ten years as the photo expires!

[bureni]

I see, my first license was a small book with a black and white photo in it, the next one was a plastic card with a pic , my current license has a paper and plastic card with a pic .

[McHappyPants2012]

the op must have the old style driving licence, before photo cards was issued and there is no law saying you have to upgrade them to the new style.

if the OP cant find the old style she will have to upgrade to the photo licence which is £20 plus she will need someone to sign the photo if she hasn't got a passport.

[MrsKeithRichards]

They do woozly then you get 7 days to take all your documents to the police station. Why I don't know.

It's like your tax. Online all you need is the renewal notice but if you go to the post office you need to show insurance and mot certificates.

[scurryfunge]

You only need to update the old ones if you change your address.

[TwickOrTweasels]

Is there anyway you could just not put it on the form, I mean what if you didn't drive?

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

Interesting. When I joined a car club a few months ago, they called up the DVLA in a conference type call where I gave consent and then the DVLA were able to give information held on file including driver's licence number and endorsements etc.

Know any car hire places who could call up your behalf

[bureni]

I though all the old style paper licenses had to be exchanged years ago, I had to change mine in the mid 1980s for a plastic card license which was not optional.

[EasyFromNowOn]

Yes, MrsKR, the old non-photo licence was valid until (I think) your 70th birthday. If you have an old licence it remains valid unless you need to change anything such as name or address, or get a replacement, in which case you have to have a photocard licence, which you have to update every 10 years and costs £20.

[QuintessentialShadows]

Google "DVLA SCAM EMAIL" and you will find out why they have to do this now.

Out of curiosity, if you have not had your driving license for ever, how can you know it has not been used by somebody else for the last couple of years?

Also, what would you do if you were involved in an accident, or was stopped by the police and asked to present yourself and your license to the station?

[Woozley]

Ok thanks MrsKR. I shall continue to keep it in a safe place then.

[EasyFromNowOn]

No, bureni, I passed my test in the mid 90s and was issued a paper licence. I did not change this for a photocard one until 2006.

[MrsKeithRichards]

Yeah there's obviously something in place for hire places. We had to renew dh's and didn't know if it would be back in time for him to hire a van so called the hire place who said they'd phone the dvla who would verify his license and entitlements.

[bureni]

Blimey, I remember getting the letter and having to send mine in around 1985. I got a plastic card but had to change that again in the late 90s for a combined paper and card license.

[mrswishywashy]

I just got my license updated with my new address. Went to do it online but as I don't have a UK passport I couldn't. Filled out the form but couldn't find address to send it so called them. After a few security questions the man was able to order me new license. He said I had to cut up both my old paper and plastic license and send it back to DVLA. I took a copy of each before doing this. I made the call on Friday and had new license by Wednesday! Quickest and easiest thing ever so it might not take ages to get replacement. I was so relieved to get it done as my original license was from overseas and could forsee all sorts of hassles having to get a totally new one. I would recommend everyone to take copies of all important identification as its so much easier to get replacements.

[bureni]

Easyfromnowon, just checked so you are correct. My license is a (N.I) U.K license issued by DVA so is different to the (G.B) U.K license.

[bertc]

created an account to answer some of the misinformation on here.

I call the DVLA (it's a premium rate service too) every day to get license details for customers for hire vehicles.

Today, they stopped providing DL numbers. They did provide this prior to today, and I even got one this morning before word had filtered throughout their call centre.

You CANNOT work out the number. The first 5 characters are the first 5 letters of your surname. The next 6 are the numbers of your DoB rearranged as YMMDDY - if female, the first 'M' has 5 added to it. The last 5 are check characters - these will be your first two initials, then either 8 or 9, then two RANDOM CHARACTERS. You can work out everything except the last 3 characters.. Any letters that don't exist (surname shorter than 5 letters, no middle name) are replaced by 9.

It's a shame that some people, instead of helping the OP, decided instead to point out stupid, obvious things about keeping the license on you when driving.. which is hardly required when the police can check the DVLA database 24 hours a day..

Doubt it's a practical solution, but I'd be inclined to pitch up at a DVLA office and refused to leave while they are stating things that cannot be true, and refused to provide you with your own data. Whatever they say on the phone, a simple data protection information request to them will REQUIRE them BY LAW to provide you with ALL data they hold on you. Of course they can stipulate it's in writing and charge you £10..

[BadgersGhostlyRetreatWoo]

they stopped today? Blimey, how's your luck OP?

does seem odd they won't give you your own number when you can answer their 'security' questions

maybe try again - see if you get someone else a bit more helpful

[Northernlurkerisbehindyouboo]

OP - as you've lost your old licence I think you'll now have to get a photocard won't you? Did they say anything about that? It's really handy actually. My paper part lives at home in the filing cabinet and the photo is out and about with me. Which means I have the licence number with me at all times. Also valid photo id with me at all times. Better than carrying a passport around with you!