Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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