Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Driving Licence

(14 Posts)
midgey Tue 01-Feb-22 14:01:19

I suddenly realised last night that my driving licence has run out after my recent birthday. The DVLA website says I can’t renew it on line. Can any one advise me on my next move?

J52 Tue 01-Feb-22 14:30:49

Go to the DVLA website, it’s all very easy, they take you through it step by step. You can still use your existing photo.

J52 Tue 01-Feb-22 14:32:18

Oh sorry, I didn’t read your post correctly. I don’t know why you can’t renew on line. I’ve recently done mine with no difficulty. Maybe it’s to do with the gap that it’s been out of date.

midgey Tue 01-Feb-22 14:33:45

Reading the internet it seems I don’t have a digital signature!

ayse Tue 01-Feb-22 14:35:57

Do you have a digital passport? If so, this can be used online. My DH did it recently.

Peasblossom Tue 01-Feb-22 14:38:08

Did it run out because you reached 70 and didn’t apply for renewal.

If so it is a problem.

Charleygirl5 Tue 01-Feb-22 14:42:22

I thought you could renew online, the only thing that stopped me was I had to produce a new photo, hence the near 6 month wait in a long queue. If you do it online, my last attempt 3 years ago took less than a week.

Peasblossom Tue 01-Feb-22 14:45:11

I’ve looked it up. It’s to do with the DVLA being able to match your signature digitally with that on your passport.

So maybe the OP hasn’t got a passport or has one that doesn’t have a digital signature.

It can still be done by paper ?

Ph1lomena Tue 01-Feb-22 14:45:57

If you don't have a passport (I don't) you have to go to a post office - but not just any post office - and they will take care of it. Charge for it of course but not exorbitantly - think the total including normal renewal fee was £21 ish. They take new photos and everything - you can search to see which branches offer the service.

Kate1949 Tue 01-Feb-22 14:46:12

I've posted on another thread about this. My husband applied to renew his online about 6 weeks ago. He is 75. The site said he had to do it by post which he did straight away. He's heard nothing since. It's impossible to get through on the phone. We've emailed them to no avail. We have no idea where his licence is. You can only track it with them if you have a reference number which we don't have as we did it by post.

bikergran Wed 02-Feb-22 08:58:30

There was a programme on last week (sorry not sure which channel) but it was a bout the Massive! backlog about Licences. Lorry drivers are unable to work etc.

My dad who renews his licence every 3 yrs sent his off the start of August never to be seen or heard of again, we have filled in a new form and sent that off, I'm not expecting to see or hear from it again.

kittylester Wed 02-Feb-22 09:03:20

Did you not get a reminder letter? That will tell you what to do.

Charleygirl5 Wed 02-Feb-22 09:21:35

It was expensive but I decided to send mine by registered post- this was at the end of August last year so I was at least able to check it had arrived. My new licence arrived in early December. I continued to drive, cautiously because I was unsure whether I could or not. Nothing was clear.

glammanana Wed 02-Feb-22 11:08:12

Charleygirl5

It was expensive but I decided to send mine by registered post- this was at the end of August last year so I was at least able to check it had arrived. My new licence arrived in early December. I continued to drive, cautiously because I was unsure whether I could or not. Nothing was clear.

According to BIL (x-motorway Police) as long as you have submitted the renewal application you can continue to drive legally.