Online D/License renewal

[Oxo01]

Sorry not AIBU. also posted on Chat but hope someone on here can help so here goes.

I'm going crazy today, my driving licence needs to be renewed tried 6 times to do it online and at different stages it says cant verify and to go to post office.
I thought I was putting things in wrong ie: not capitals. No spaces etc. Got my partner to double check with me but still cant get through the intital standard questions .
I renewed my passport in 2023 (it's a blue one now )
Looked up info says to get a
D1 pack from P/O . Gov.uk say can download forms but it looks like you can't do that for a Renewal of expiry licence ? on top of this i found a free download else where it has a heading renewal if over 70.
Please anyone have any knowledge on this, is it gov.uk online issue or my passport etc.
I know I'm going to have to go to the P/O but just like to know if anyone has had same issue recently.

My partner had the exact same issue recently trying to renew his driving licence. Triple checked the details, redid the application. Had the same frustration as you and can't get past the initial verification stage. Annoying and will also have to go to the Post Office to sort but it won't be a problem with your details / documents the gov.uk website is just a bit shit.

I had to go in and it was something to do with my new passport, the system can't recognise them - the woman had to take a new photo and it's perhaps the worst photo I've ever seen of myself so counting down the days for it to be changed again 😂😂😂

I had to renew my DL by post (I only needed to update the photo). The gov.uk process didn't 'recognise' me as existing, despite providing it with my passport number, NI number, address etc.

To be fair, by post was pretty easy and quick.

Thanks is all, I've also had similar responses on the Chat section
I am also thinking it is to do with the newish blue p/port. Prob will go this w/end and do hopefully.

I'm going to replace my driving licence by post, because I had the same problems with the online application process as you did.

Just a update Re: Renewal

Went to P/Office early Sat morning,
She didn't know why I was unable to do online but all i had to do was have a picture taken which she done on her IPad, told her nothing had changed ie name, address etc

Gave her my D/ License and she verifyed and completed it on IPad.

Paid £21.50 which included the cost of photo.

She then cut my existing licence up (even though it doesn't expire untill the 30th March )

But she said to keep the receipt safe and take a picture of it on my phone which should be used as proof if for any reason I'm asked for it.

All in all it took about 20mins if that well worth it.

Had the same OP. Multiple attempts, eventually got fed up and went to PO.

I wish I had gone to PO sooner. Wasted a lot of time and was frustrated like hell(my DL photo proves it 😂)

I was surprised- no proof of address or passport needed, just handed my old DL, had photo taken, paid up and my new DL came by post less than 2 weeks later.

I was also surprised at no proof etc requied. I took my passport with me but didnt need it, just my D/License.

When i had to sign on IPad I saw my P/port and info on it underneath..

No help but I managed it online , needed to change photo and address and renewed at same time ( provisional license) I have a passport which is only about 3 months old ,having downloaded a government ID check app onto my iPad it seemed straightforward and my new license arrived within a fortnight .
The app seemed to check my passport info to confirm it was me ? maybe that’s the thing you need but I’m just guessing

Sorry to resurrect this thread but having a bit of a panic!

We are going on holiday in less than 3 weeks & DH's licence expires a few days after we return. We're hiring a car (DH is doing the driving, I'm not confident abroad). Tried to apply online but had same issue as OP, couldn't verify the ID, even much more tech savvy DS had a go but it just wouldn't work! Couldn't get to post office until today and to his horror they took his unexpired licence off him saying they had to send it off (assumed it would all be digital). Was told it takes about 2 weeks. However, the post office website says 3 weeks! We're now shitting ourselves!

Has anyone done this recently and can reassure!?

Thanks!

Oh, I got to the end of the application and it said it couldn't identify me. I went to the PO and she told me to try another device, but it kicked me out when I put my name in. I went back (they don't do the applications in my local one - PO website said they did...) and she said try another email.

Got to the end and they couldn't verify me. The fourth nearby PO did it on the spot, a Monday and my licence arrived on the Thursday.

Oh I hope DH's comes back as quick! I'm so mad with DH for handing over the, as yet unexpired, licence as I'm not sure it was necessary (post office bloke did the application on line). He's taken a photo of it but sure foreign car hire comp won't accept a photo 😡

I renewed mine last month. My passport is in my married name but doss state that I'm legally known by my maiden name as well. Because the online verification system doesn't take anything other than primary name into account it couldn't verify my identity so I had to get a D1 form from a post office and then pay the extra few quid plus the cost of getting passport photos (£9 😫) and a postage stamp. All felt very annoying as I am legally known by the name on my driving licence!!

Oh, and to add insult to injury the DVLA only accepts payment via cheque, so I had to call my bank to ask for a cheque book as I haven't had one of those since about 2004 😂

Hi, I had exactly the same situation with my licence due to expire a couple of days after holiday ended. The DVLA told me you're still legally covered to drive as it's the photocard that expires, not your driving licence itself. However there is a £1000 fine for not renewing it when it expires. Does your DH have the paper copy of his licence so that he can show the hire company that he does have a valid licence?

Just to add that you have to send in your expired licence when you apply to renew so your DH didn't have a choice. And if it helps I was also quoted 3 weeks but mine was back in 2, fingers crossed it's the same for you!

It's annoying as his licence doesn't expire for a few more weeks, a few days after we get back from holiday so not sure what you're supposed to do if you need it in the interim. Do you have to send it back if you renew online? Never got to find out as the stupid system kicked us out before we got that far!

No, he doesn't unfortunately. Said he surrendered it the first time he got a photocard licence.

I decided to wait until after I returned from holiday to apply as they said it was ok to wait until the day of expiry to send off the form. Not sure about online but on the paper form it stated you had to send the old licence back with the application and it was listed on the checklist for making sure you'd included all relevant documents in the envelope.

Sorry, mumsnet decided to quote a different post of yours but hopefully it's obvious which one this reply goes with! 😅

I wish he'd done that but he needs his licence for his job and didn't want to chance it, although I've since seen that as long as you can prove you've applied, it's fine. Really wish we'd done more research before applying 😡 Will be spending the next couple of weeks sweating on the post now, as we absolutely need a car for this holiday!

Onthemoooove · Yesterday 20:56

The guy told me to allow 10 working days, so I was really pleased!