This information could save you penalty points on your driving licence

[Currysniffa]

It is now 10 years since the first photocard driving licences were issued, and those who received their licence 10 years ago must now update the photograph.
Unlike the old style paper driving licence the photocard driving licence expires after ten years and failing to update means that you will be driving on an Expired Licence. The expiry date of the licence can be found on the front of the licence.

For most people this will not be a problem as you will receive a reminder from DVLA two months before the expiry date of the licence.
The problem is for those who have not notified DVLA of a change of personal details such as change of address. You are therefore advised to check your driving licence immediately. The cost to renew a photocard licence is £17.50.
Please be aware it is an offence to drive with an expired licence and/or for failing to notify the DVLA of a change of address, if prosecuted you could receive a fine of up to £1,000 so please check.
Due to omissions being made by DVLA you should take a copy of your existing licence before you send it away and check your new licence closely on return, the text below explains why.
The DVLA are making mistakes when driving licences are being submitted for variation i.e. address change, or 10 year limit on photo licences.
For drivers who passed their test pre 1997 with automatic entitlement for Category BE, C1, C1E, D1 and D1E may find their licence coming back WITHOUT these entitlements. This will mean that the driver is technically driving illegally and subject to prosecution.
Without being able to prove that these entitlements existed before the licence was submitted for variation the driver will be required to take a test for the various groups before these can be reinstated on the licence.
The only protection is for the driver to take a copy of the licence before sending it off; otherwise they will need to take another test!
Categories - Pre 1997

• BE - Cars + Trailer where the total combined mass does not exceed 3,500Kg
• C1 - Lorries between 3,500 kg – 7,500 kg with a trailer up to 750kg
• C1E - As above with a total weight not exceeding 8,250kg
• D1 - Vehicles between 9 – 16 passenger seats with a trailer not exceeding 750kg
• D1E - As above but the total combination of vehicle and trailer does not exceed 12,000kg
• Loss of Licence through prosecution

Where a driver who obtained a licence pre 1997 looses the entitlement to driver through conviction and is required to undertake a test to reinstate the licence the automatic entitlements to categories BE, C1, C1E, D1 and D1E will be lost and the driver will be required to undergo a retest to get them back.

[VirginVegGrower]

A licence to print money?! Must go and have a look.

[Piggle]

I know - I only noticed mine was about to expire when I gave it to a carhire person in Orlando Airport ... luckily they didn't have a clue what it was anyway .

[binley100]

I've still got a paper licence , details are still the same so never had need to change it ......do I have to ?

[veggiechicken]

I've still got a paper licence , details are still the same so never had need to change it ......do I have to ?

Not until you reach 70 or you move (I think). I'm still on paper too! Think of all the money we're saving.

[binley100]

I'm not moving .......thats another £35 saved then

[Snadger]

Another one on a tattered paper jobbie................

[mothhawk]

It's actually more than 10 years since they were first issued. I changed my paper one for a photocard in June 2000, updated in 2010, so I have another 8 years on mine.

[bearded bloke]

Beetcher bud updated mine 24.03.10 (section 4a) expires 23.03.20 (section 4b) & in case the numbers are ambiguous the expiry month & year are below the picture,in my case MAR20
While on the topic remember that spectacles/sunglasses must be removed for the picture these days

[Erbitrude]

It has just cost me £20 last october to renew the photo on mine, so i think the price has gone up.

[SarzWix]

Why do you have to 'prove' your entitlement to those categories? If you got your licence before the date of the change, you legally have those entitlements. So all you should have to prove is the date you gained your licence, which is printed on the licence...

[Bagpuss]

Funnily enough I have just sent mine off to change my surname. Before posting I took a photocopy of both the paper and photocard licence (back and front) as I have heard many horror stories about the licences coming back minus various categories. Having spoken to someone at the DVLA they have assured me (for whatever that is worth) that they will accept a copy as proof of the categories I have.

[Alison]

I've still got my paper one with no intention of edown grading until I have to. It's amazing how often somebody tells me that it's not valid which seems to be a view encouraged as a money making scam.

[Hilary B]

Not sure what people are talking about as a 'paper' licence. Is it one of the old 'booklet' style ones? Anything since then DOES have to be renewed I believe (unless I'm seriously confused, which is quite possible), and I'm sure the 'pink card plus green paper' type have been around quite a lot more than 10 years now!

[SlugLobber]

Why do you have to 'prove' your entitlement to those categories? If you got your licence before the date of the change, you legally have those entitlements. So all you should have to prove is the date you gained your licence, which is printed on the licence...

You'd think so, but this is the DVLA. Know people who this has happened to and come to think of it I didn't check mine when it came back (I moved in October). Better check, as I'm always driving lorries and towing!!

Should add that it's an offence not to notify DVLA of a change of address, so peeps should bear that in mind. I only realised a few years ago that you had to notify HMRC, too - alwayss assumed the employer did it through PAYE!!