DVLA identity proof problem over my 'Unofficial' step-surname since toddler.

[goldfacegreen]

aged 2, my mother remarried and I lived with her and my stepfather and their new child.
I unofficially adopted his surname. He never officially adopted me as his own.
My national health card and my first driving licence were under his name.

Age 18 I reverted to my birth surname as on my birth certificate.

I then lost my driving licence.

Now age 45, I have been twice refused a driving licence renewal because despite sending in my birth certificate, an expired passport (which they said was ok)and a enter from my mother as evidence I was never officially adopted, they now ant a Deed Poll 'linking the two surnames'.

My stepfather died many years ago.

As an extra aside, because my national health number was registered under the step surname (presumably my national insurance number never was, that would have been allocated at birth registration? ) and I applied for my first provisional licence under that step surname, doesn't that mean DVLA made an error in issuing it in the first place?

Anyway, does anyone have similar experience or advice? I don't know now I can provide a Deed Poll to show a change of name when it never was officially changed

My dad had a birth certificate with a different name, the family surname was changed when he was a small child via deed poll which was then lost. He made a statutory declaration which was witnessed by a solicitor which basically laid out the facts and he signed to say it was true. He had to do this to get a passport

You can do a statutory declaration which should suffice. If you want a template I can email you one if you PM me your email address, then you just take it to your local magistrates court or to any high street solicitor and get it sworn (should be £5-10 for a swear).

it's very easy to provide a deed poll. google free deed poll you can print a free template.

A swear is £5 with £2 for each exhibit. It's a very good way of providing proof of something.

But you must make sure that the facts in it are 100% accurate.