audio-talk

curious thing...

I've just received a missive from DVLA telling me I must renew my driving licence..as driving licences must be renewed every 10 years.
Now I've just worked out that I've had a driving licence for 51 years and apart from swapping from the red book, I've never had to renew it.

when did this sneaky little bit of legislation come to pass?

Ed,
I'm not aware of this requirement and could not find anything online. However as I'm sure you are aware one has to renew ones driving licence at age 70 and then renew every 3 years after that.

Be aware though that when renewing at age 70 you check you still have all the same groups on your new licence you had on your old. They assume you will not be driving lorries etc. or towing caravans etc and that you just need a standard car and/or motorbike licence and remove the other classes. So be vigilant.

If you have a photo driving licence, your photo expires after 10 years.

I'm curious to know what's required myself. I've had the same non-photo driving license since 1984. Nobody official has asked me to do anything about it, but I've heard rumours I might have to renew it.

Having heard horror stories about applications taking months to be processed I sent of my online renewal on the maximum 90 days before my 70th next January.
New license arrived four days later!

ed wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 11:39 am curious thing...

I've just received a missive from DVLA telling me I must renew my driving licence..as driving licences must be renewed every 10 years.
Now I've just worked out that I've had a driving licence for 51 years and apart from swapping from the red book, I've never had to renew it.

when did this sneaky little bit of legislation come to pass?

I remember renewing my license when it went to the two part type, and then again when it went to the current one part type. I think the initial change was when I last moved house. Have you lived at the same address for the last 51 years ed?

When I was asked to renew my driving licence it was because I had passed 70 years of age.

In order to retain ALL of my previous groups I would have had to have a medical examination, and at the time it was almost impossible to see a doctor, so after a thinking session I gave up some groups. Seems I can re-apply should I need to at some future date.

So now, for the first time, I have a photo card type licence, and no paper at all.

I did it online and they took my passport photo from "the files" , although that may change next renewal in 2024.

Nick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:38 pm
I remember renewing my license when it went to the two part type, and then again when it went to the current one part type. I think the initial change was when I last moved house. Have you lived at the same address for the last 51 years ed?

I've been at this address for 20 years....

I've just read the details on my photo licence and it states 14-01-12 to 13-01-22 so it's possible I did renew it..but I have absolutely no memory of doing it....


the letter says if I do it online I will get the new licence within 1 week...mmm

ed wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 12:59 pm
the letter says if I do it online I will get the new licence within 1 week...mmm

I don't remember waiting a long time when I renewed mine Ed.

The delays seem to happen when there’s no existing photo available from the passport office. As I say, mine came back last month in four days.

Here you go….

https://www.driving.co.uk/car-clinic/ar ... ger-legal/

What amazed me is that the 77 year old vicar with macular degeneration who ran full pelt into the back of my landrover has just had his eyes tested...

...and been passed fit to drive!

By his own admission he has trouble handling transitions between light and dark.

It can only be a good thing that you're retested regularly as you get older for the sake of your own and others' safety.