AIBU or daft to not renew passport?

[AllTheChaos]

So, I have a passport but it has just run out. Unlikely to be able to afford to go overseas any time soon, or ever if finances don’t pick up a lot, which seems unlikely for various reasons. So in theory, no need to renew passport. However, I don’t drive, so no driving license, and no other proper official photo ID. I am aware of so many situations where such ID is needed - even for something as simple as putting belongings in storage when moving house, but because money is so tight at the moment I am tempted to leave it and wait till I have managed to save the cost of a new passport (will only take 3-4 months hopefully) rather than putting it on a credit card and paying interest. Given it takes ages for passports to be renewed though, is that a stupid thing to do? Or is there a cheaper ID alternative people can recommend? I am careful with money and do save a little each month, but just had a series of disasters that have cost over £1,000 in the last fortnight, and my savings are gone, and I am now in debt, or I would just suck it up.

Unreasonable: just increase your debt and get the damned passport you fool
Not Unreasonable: you are unlikely to need photo ID anytime soon, just wait till you have the money

I would hate to be without a passport, but in truth I rarely need it outside of travelling, apart from occasionally for ID (I also don’t drive). That said, when you do need it for ID, it’s usually needed quickly.

So probably not sensible to get into debt for, but absolutely worth doing as soon as you can save for it. They come through pretty fast nowadays, even without using the express service.

You can use an out of date passport as ID. Don't renew if you don't need to.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

ID card?

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

ID card?

Could you apply for a provisional driving licence - you don’t have to drive. I can’t work out if that’s a brilliant suggestion or a stupid one?

I'd get an ID card.

Also (and not the point I know) passports don't take very long to be renewed anymore - around a week.

Could you apply for a provisional driving licence - you don’t have to drive. I can’t work out if that’s a brilliant suggestion or a stupid one?

Mine ran out 5 years ago. I just hadn’t noticed to be honest, and never needed it during that time (I do have a drivers license though, which I did have to use several times for various reasons, so suspect I’d have been screwed if I had needed ID fast!)

I booked a holiday overseas recently, and it was only then that I discovered my passport had run out. Applied via the Post Office, where they complete the form digitally and there is no need for a counter signature, as they take your photo. Passport took 5 days (yes, 5 days!!) to arrive. Super fast!

I would say you need ‘some’ form of photographic ID OP.

It's becoming a real issue with the cost of a passport now.

Alternatives
https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/easyid

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/pass-card
The first is free, the second is accepted for voter ID etc. and is valid for two years I think.

Legislation is in the post to accept digital ID's for a range of things like alcohol purchase.

Thanks everyone! I will look into ID card, and provisional licence - which I confess hadn’t occurred to me! That’s interesting about how much less time it now takes to get a passport. I shouldn’t need ID so might hold on a few weeks, research options, and then just go for the cheapest

Just a point. If its run out it's not a renewal, you will need to apply for a new passport.

Are you sure? I thought that was only if it had expired ages ago. I thought it was still a renewal within a certain timeframe.

I don't think that's right, a friend recently got a new passport and hasn't had one since pre Covid, she did ask me if I'd sign it but in the end it wasn't needed as she just renewed her old one

It is useful to have, but don't see any issues if you are without for a few months. You can't necessarily use an expired passport for id, particularly with things like banking. I didn't have to do anything different when renewing my kids passports a couple of years ago. Ds1's ran out in lockdown and the process was the same as renewing ds2's, which was still in date

This is not true
It will be a renewal if you have had a passport in the past even if it expired years ago

Just wanted to back this up i renewed mine last year and it has been expired a year, you just re new.

As a non driver, it is vital ID for me so probably worth the expense even if I didn't travel internationally

My last passport took 5 days for renewal and that was with a change of name so they don’t always take ages, husbands took 4 days.

That’s not true, mine ran out in early 2020 and I didn’t renew it till 2023 as I wasn’t posting whilst I couldn’t travel. I sent off my old one, and my documents and had a new one in 5 days.