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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you have a cheque book?

167 replies

DVLEh · 14/12/2025 09:06

I haven't had one since 2020.

I asked 4 friends. None of them have a cheque book either.

We're all 40s-60s and haven't needed one for years. 2 friends' bank accounts could request a cheque book, but the other 3 of us couldn't.

I need to send a cheque or postal order to the DVLA. So it's a national government service asking.

And on another note, the man in the PO yesterday didn't know what a postal order was, so couldn't issue me one.

YABU - change your bank account to one which automatically issues a cheque book

YANBU - the DVLA needs to join the 21st century

OP posts:
Original poster
DVLEh · 14/12/2025 09:20

Grinch11 · 14/12/2025 09:18

Not had one for 15/20 years. I can’t remember the last time I wrote or received a cheque.

I last received one for my phone cashback. My bank lets me take photos of them. So easy.

OP posts:
DeepRubySwan · 14/12/2025 09:21

My god, I thought cheques were like from the 1980s or something

dudsville · 14/12/2025 09:22

I do, but they're really old. Last time I had to write a cheque it felt so foreign and I messed up and had to start over.

ShesTheAlbatross · 14/12/2025 09:22

somanychristmaslights · 14/12/2025 09:14

Why does the DVLA need one? Are you sure that’s not a scam? When I replaced my driving license I just paid by card.

I needed to change the details on my V5C because we’d moved, but I’d lost the previous one so couldn’t do it online. The only way was to print a form and send it along with a cheque or postal order.

SlowSloths · 14/12/2025 09:23

I don't have one but I receive cheques from my Godmother for my children at Christmas. I'm just grateful my banking app can process them, because before that I had to go to the bank to deposit them.

CalzoneOnLegs · 14/12/2025 09:24

@dudsville don't you have to write the amount in words also, e.g ‘forty five pounds and eighty nine pence’ ?

Mikart · 14/12/2025 09:24

I have one but used it last in 2020

ACynicalDad · 14/12/2025 09:26

I got a new account in about 2017, it was a standard question if i wanted a new cheque book, woman sounded shocked i said yes. It’s never been used!! Should probably shred it. Maybe at 10 years!

Sesma · 14/12/2025 09:26

Yes, I had to order one in 2016 when DM died as the solicitor dealing with probate wanted cheques for some payments. DH also has a chequebook and has occasionally used it. DH received a cheque recently as he had changed his car and DVLA send out car tax refunds by cheque

OhamIreally · 14/12/2025 09:27

I have one but have hardly used it in 5 years. Family member sends me a cheque for birthdays and Christmas. I’ve got one now waiting to be paid in which I can do on the app.

Alicorn1707 · 14/12/2025 09:27

somanychristmaslights · 14/12/2025 09:14

Why does the DVLA need one? Are you sure that’s not a scam? When I replaced my driving license I just paid by card.

They do indeed, in some instances, require payment by cheque/postal order @somanychristmaslights

The seven services listed are:

  • Application to exchange a non-GB driving licence for a GB one.
  • Application for a driving licence following a disqualification
  • Requests for vehicle information from individuals (companies and other organisations can use the automated online service)
  • Application for a vehicle registration certificate where the original is not available.
  • Applications for reduced vehicle tax for those receiving the standard rate of Personal Independence Payment.
  • Application to amend vehicle excise duty details - for example up or down plating of a heavy goods vehicle
  • Trade licence applications, including firstlicences, renewal or replacement
Mydogisagentleman · 14/12/2025 09:27

Somewhere.
Our 24 year old daughter never had one.
She thought that she could get one and the money was safe in her account

Sesma · 14/12/2025 09:27

ShesTheAlbatross · 14/12/2025 09:20

Oh yes I had to pay the DVLA for something recently and had to get a postal order. I don’t understand why I couldn’t pay online like I did for my new passport - why must it be a bloody cheque or postal order??

Very odd that the guy in your post office didn’t know what it was though!

They also send car tax refunds back by cheque.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 14/12/2025 09:28

I do. I use it rarely, the bloke who cleans the chimneys likes cash / a cheque on the day. Saves me going to cash machine.

NewUserNewName · 14/12/2025 09:31

I have one, I had to order it because I needed it to exchange my driving licence (EU licence to British licence).
But I don’t think I’ll ever use it again…

InterestedDad37 · 14/12/2025 09:31

I have one, but can't remember actually using it for at least a decade. I had to get a new driving licence last year (expired) and can remember seeing that DVLA accept/ask for cheques, but I must have paid online 🤔
I received one a while ago for some work I did (a one-off short project) - tried to use the 'scan and submit' method, but couldn't get it to work, so had to take it into local branch (which we still have, but I hadn't used it otherwise for a decade either)

BigMommasHouse · 14/12/2025 09:32

I stopped bothering with them about 20 years ago. However I recently had to get one to pay my solicitor and estate agent whilst moving house. All cheques for amounts in the thousands. May be it is something around money laundering prevention?

Jestham · 14/12/2025 09:32

Yes. I'm 46. I used it a few months ago for a payment to Companies House. I hadn't used it for about 4 years until then. I don't see why I wouldn't keep one in the house just in case I needed one though. It's not as if it takes up much room.

MrsMoastyToasty · 14/12/2025 09:32

I have one and I've just looked at the stubs. The last cheque I wrote was to my baby great nephew on his arrival, because I didn't want the money going into his parents account.

My cheque book has a leatherette cover on it with the Midland Bank (now HSBC) logo on it from when I worked there around 40 years ago.

sesquipedalian · 14/12/2025 09:32

I have a cheque book for just such an eventuality. The last time I used it was when a delightful couple of elderly gentlemen came to mend our harmonium a couple of years ago: they seemed to think it nothing out of the ordinary to ask for a cheque.

EssentialGarage · 14/12/2025 09:34

I knew this would be DVLA- I sent one this week- we have a cheque book just for the DVLA- but being a garage we send a lot. But agree it is madness.

Original poster
DVLEh · 14/12/2025 09:34

Very odd that the guy in your post office didn’t know what it was though!

Confused face

But you're a post office... It's like a cheque, but issued by the post office...

I know @ShesTheAlbatross ! It was a branch in a shop in the burbs, so I suspect they deal far more with parcels and bank account transactions than postal orders. I'm going to the branch in town tomorrow to get my PO.

OP posts:
muddyford · 14/12/2025 09:34

I've used mine twice in the last week. I don't use it for a few months then a bit of a flurry. I've received two this week.

Bjorkdidit · 14/12/2025 09:36

Can't you do the thing with the DVLA online and pay by card?

We do have a cheque book but it was issued about 20 years ago and we've used about 3 cheques out of it.

Sesma · 14/12/2025 09:37

DHs DVLA cheque is sitting there, he doesn't use a bank app just his laptop for banking so he will have to trot down the PO to put it in his bank