Expired licence
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Discussion

Austin Prefect

Original Poster:

2,426 posts

20 months

Tuesday 9th December 2025
quotequote all
A neighbour has hit the age of 70 but apparently got some kind of delay in renewing his driving licence. He actually got his mum to give him a lift the other day wobble Am I right in thinking that as long he's posted off a renewal form he's OK to drive?

LosingGrip

8,798 posts

187 months

Tuesday 9th December 2025
quotequote all
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e...

Long as he meets all of page two, yes he can.

Panamax

9,282 posts

62 months

Tuesday 9th December 2025
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Very helpful.

E-bmw

13,149 posts

180 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
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^^^^ Wot 'e said.

Provided it has just "expired" and there are no material changes to his health etc then it is just a renewal & he can continue AFAIK.

I believe it is section 88 of the RTA covers the detail.

Pica-Pica

16,425 posts

112 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
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As said. I have driven under those conditions.

carreauchompeur

18,309 posts

232 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
quotequote all
Yes, Sec 88 applies. I recently took my mum to the bank to sort something out and noticed the expiry date on her licence 2 weeks hence. “WTF mum, did DVLA not write to you?!” “Yes, a couple of months ago”. She managed the online renewal that very day. Mothers!

Austin Prefect

Original Poster:

2,426 posts

20 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
quotequote all
No medical issues as far as I know, so he should be good to go.

Plus4Four#

240 posts

9 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
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Our neighbour is in the process of renewing, he is aged 80.
He is unable to do this online as he gets a refusal. He does not have a passport, his old licence was replaced 5 years ago due to losing the one he had.
He phoned DVLA to query why. They checked his details of history for his licence and the problem is that his photo on it was out of date and due to not having a valid passport they could have taken a photo from ( online connection to the Passport database) he needed a new photo and use the forms sent to him to get the replacement. He has until mid February to do this.

Plus4Four#

240 posts

9 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
quotequote all
Our neighbour is in the process of renewing, he is aged 80.
He is unable to do this online as he gets a refusal. He does not have a passport, his old licence was replaced 5 years ago due to losing the one he had.
He phoned DVLA to query why. They checked his details of history for his licence and the problem is that his photo on it was out of date and due to not having a valid passport they could have taken a photo from ( online connection to the Passport database) he needed a new photo and use the forms sent to him to get the replacement. He has until mid February to do this.

Simpo Two

92,417 posts

293 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
quotequote all
Plus4Four said:
He is unable to do this online as he gets a refusal.

He phoned DVLA to query why. They checked his details of history for his licence and the problem is that his photo on it was out of date and due to not having a valid passport they could have taken a photo from ( online connection to the Passport database) he needed a new photo and use the forms sent to him to get the replacement.
And that's why people must never be entirely replaced by computers. Had it not been for a person on the phone with eyes and a brain, he would never have got his licence.

alscar

9,177 posts

241 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
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My Mother forgot to renew her driving licence ( she had stopped driving and sold her car ) but wanted to keep the licence as ID ) and I managed to renew it online as if she was answering the questions ( honestly answering all the questions ) about a year after the expiry date.

Pica-Pica

16,425 posts

112 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Plus4Four said:
He is unable to do this online as he gets a refusal.

He phoned DVLA to query why. They checked his details of history for his licence and the problem is that his photo on it was out of date and due to not having a valid passport they could have taken a photo from ( online connection to the Passport database) he needed a new photo and use the forms sent to him to get the replacement.
And that's why people must never be entirely replaced by computers. Had it not been for a person on the phone with eyes and a brain, he would never have got his licence.
I am sure on-line would have said ' you need to submit an up to date photo' as well as a question about your passport number

ukwill

10,063 posts

235 months

Wednesday 10th December 2025
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He's 70 and his mum is still alive, and still driving?

Blimey!