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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have not realised my driving licence expired

34 replies

CupOfCake · 18/02/2022 14:19

I thought it was valid until I was 70!
DH has been nagging me to remember to bring it on holiday as I have forgotten it in the past.
He asked to see it on the way to the airport. I was quite put out then noticed it's actually expired.
I had no idea they expired, the text is so small I needed to look at it through my phone camera.

Think I've renewed it online, though the gov.uk website didn't ask for a photo!

Rather embarrassing, especially as I was huffy at being nagged!

Did everyone know this????

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 18/02/2022 14:22

Yes.

themosttiptoptopcat · 18/02/2022 14:24

I knew mine needed renewing 10 years after it was issued but I just….forgot it had been 10 years! I only noticed (or rather DH noticed) when he applied for me to get insured on his car. I sent it off in November and it was returned about 2 weeks ago.

dementedpixie · 18/02/2022 14:25

It's only the photo that's expired, not the whole licence. The photo needs to be renewed every 10 years and you can do it online if you have a passport as they will use the photo from that on your new photocard.

PolkaSpace · 18/02/2022 14:25

Yes

AchillesPoirot · 18/02/2022 14:25

Yes.

GreenDressRedWine · 18/02/2022 14:26

There was a post the other week about this so I went and check mine then. Without that I'm not sure it would have occurred to me TBH.

ChessieFL · 18/02/2022 14:36

Yes, did mine last summer.

Aposterhasnoname · 18/02/2022 14:38

I knew that, DH got a letter reminding him to do his, but I didn’t.

DetailMouse · 18/02/2022 14:43

The paper ones did last until your 70th birthday. It's only since the photocards that they need renewing

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 18/02/2022 14:47

Yes.

It's the photo part that expires, not your entitlement to drive.

Is your address up to date? You should receive a letter when it needs to be renewed.

SummaLuvin · 18/02/2022 14:50

the text is so small I needed to look at it through my phone camera.

my eyesight is bad but, unless your license has a printing issue, I'm not convinced you should be driving until you get your eyes tested if you can't read that.

sorryforswearing · 18/02/2022 14:51

I found out because of a chance remark by a friend. When I checked it had expired six months previously. I’ve just received my new one after a very long wait because I wasn’t able to apply online due to my address changing although I was still in the same house. I spoke to someone recently who also found out by chance that it was only valid for ten years. His had expired seven years previously. I think a lot of people don’t know.

Itsalmostanaccessory · 18/02/2022 14:54

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

Yes.

It's the photo part that expires, not your entitlement to drive.

Is your address up to date? You should receive a letter when it needs to be renewed.

This isnt strictly true. You cannot drive with an expired license.
sorryforswearing · 18/02/2022 14:55

I didn’t receive a reminder. We still get post that is sent to us using the old address so we would have still got it had it been sent.

sorryforswearing · 18/02/2022 14:58

You can drive with an expired license once you have applied for a new one as long as there are no reasons you shouldn’t. Undisclosed medical conditions for example.

Dixiechickonhols · 18/02/2022 15:01

Yes. It’s 10 years for photocard. Mines out of step with DH as I changed my name when married need to do it later this year - married 20 years so anniversary is easy reminder.

Dixiechickonhols · 18/02/2022 15:03

Might be time for an eye test too OP - print is normal size I’m mid 40s and not quite at reading glasses/varifocals stage and can see date fine.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 18/02/2022 15:05

This isnt strictly true. You cannot drive with an expired license.

You can so long as you've applied for a replacement and the DVLA have received your application.

Itsalmostanaccessory · 18/02/2022 15:06

@sorryforswearing

That's very different from the OP who has been driving around for 6 months without a valid license (and her insurance would try to use that as an excuse not to pay out if anything had happened).

The type size on a driving license is also just normal sized. Very clear. And she cant read it so... maybe shouldn't be driving.

Original poster
CupOfCake · 18/02/2022 15:07

@sorryforswearing

I didn’t receive a reminder. We still get post that is sent to us using the old address so we would have still got it had it been sent.
I definitely didn't get a letter.
OP posts:
ACNHlife · 18/02/2022 15:08

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

Yes.

It's the photo part that expires, not your entitlement to drive.

Is your address up to date? You should receive a letter when it needs to be renewed.

Your insurance will probably also be void if you have an expired licence.

I did it when DS1 was born, it totally slipped my mind and I was driving around for a year with an expired one. Flowers

ACNHlife · 18/02/2022 15:08

That was meant to be Blush

UnsuitableHat · 18/02/2022 15:11

I only realised last year! Mine was out of date but luckily there was some sort of extension due to the pandemic

Original poster
CupOfCake · 18/02/2022 15:22

The type size on a driving license is also just normal sized.
Really isn't on mine. It's about 5 point.
I am quite long sighted, so not great with text but fine to drive.

OP posts:
BelleNoir · 18/02/2022 15:36

Yep

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