Licence Expiry Renewal Failure

[mike42]

So one week before going away, I realise my licence expired at the end of May. Aside from the risk of being fined over the past 2 months and the next 3 weeks while I get it sorted has anyone else had trouble on the Gov website trying to submit a new application?

I start it off and enter name, address etc and keeps coming back saying it can't find me. I've been very careful to be sure its all entered correctly and still its computer-says-no.

Guess I might have to go to the post office who charge extra and will mean I need to go twice (as also need international driving permit and to get that you need a UK licence).

[Twig62]

Is it just the photo that has expired.

[mike42]

I think so. Date in Box 4b on the licence.

[Twig62]

Your licence hasn't expired then just the photo.

[mike42]

Still not valid though and risking a fine according to this:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/renew-dri...

[vaud]

mike42 said:

Still not valid though and risking a fine according to this:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/renew-dri...

“Up to £1000...” - how many people actually get fined given how many have expired ?

[bigandclever]

mike42 said:

I start it off and enter name, address etc and keeps coming back saying it can't find me. I've been very careful to be sure its all entered correctly and still its computer-says-no.

What does it *actually* say?

[mike42]

bigandclever said:

What does it *actually* say?

Pasted below. Does it help more than the OP ?

Sorry...

It has not been possible to match you with your driver record based on the details you have provided.

Please check your details on the following pages and change anything that is incorrect.

Please consider the following when checking your details:

Check that you have included middle names if these are on your driver record
Check the spelling of names and special characters - e.g. hyphens, apostrophes
Check that one of the addresses you have entered is the address on your driver record

[bigandclever]

Go lateral.

Check what they think your licence details are at https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

[mike42]

Interesting thanks.

Still, it does include this line:

Licence valid to: 31 May 2020

Strange why the other "renew my licence" can't even find my details if your link finds it no problem.

[1878]

Drivers with a photocard driving licence due to expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 will be granted a 7 month extension from the date of expiry the DVLA has announced today (4 June 2020).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drivers-granted...

[mike42]

1878 said:

Drivers with a photocard driving licence due to expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 will be granted a 7 month extension from the date of expiry the DVLA has announced today (4 June 2020).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drivers-granted...

Wow thanks for that ! That really is interesting.

Makes me wonder though if it will still be accepted in the Post Office to obtain an IDP ?
https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/internationa...

Ultimately its the IDP that I really need so I can hire a car in the country I'm going to (non EU)

[KevinCamaroSS]

mike42 said:

Wow thanks for that ! That really is interesting.

Makes me wonder though if it will still be accepted in the Post Office to obtain an IDP ?
https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/internationa...

Ultimately its the IDP that I really need so I can hire a car in the country I'm going to (non EU)

If you take it to a PO they will want to do the renewal. It takes about 3 weeks and they will charge £27.50. I think I got a cheque back from the DVLA for £17 as well. I doubt very much whether they will give you a IDP in your circumstances. Your entitlements have not expired but your DL has if the date at 4b not current.

[Dogwatch]

Is the "unable to find you" message actually because it's not a straightforward renewal and that part of the system which should deal with it has been switched off?

Wouldn't be the first time that an error message doesn't reflect what's really going on.

[KevinCamaroSS]

Dogwatch said:

Is the "unable to find you" message actually because it's not a straightforward renewal and that part of the system which should deal with it has been switched off?

Wouldn't be the first time that an error message doesn't reflect what's really going on.

Not sure, but not likely given the C19 issues, I would have thought they would want to do as much as possible online.

I discovered my licence had 'expired' when I went to rent a van. When doing a licence check on line it was 'not found'. The date at 4b was overdue. This date was the date the photo expired but the note for 4b says 'date of expiry', not 'date photo expires'. This leads me to believe they are treating 4b as date of licence expiry, i.e. the photocard which constitutes the whole of the licence now there is no paper counterpart.

I got the same message as the OP when I tried to renew online.

[megaphone]

I applied for a replacement licence over a month ago online, gave them my passport details etc but it did not get authorised. They sent me a form which I needed to attach a photo too and post back.

Still waiting, checked online and it says they are waiting for the form, so I'm guessing it is sitting in the back-log of paperwork they must have. I'll give it a few more weeks before I chase.

[Oilchange]

vaud said:

mike42 said:

Still not valid though and risking a fine according to this:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/renew-dri...

“Up to £1000...” - how many people actually get fined given how many have expired ?

The actual offence committed is failing to notify DVLA of up-to-date information, contrary to s.99.5 of the Road Traffic Act. Not, as has been suggested, ‘driving otherwise than in accordance with a driving licence’.

Failing to update your photo is a non-endorseable offence although it could carry a fine.

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/blog/entry/legislation...

Despite all that, how could the dvla enforce a fine? They’re not a magistrate. The dvla website claims its to prevent fraudulent use of the photocard. As if an eleven year old photo of me suddenly becomes fraud and a nine year old one isn’t!
Its money. Plain and simple.
And the problems an out of date photocard presents when hiring cars etc.

Edited by Oilchange on Monday 27th July 12:35

[mike42]

When you try three times it pops up a telephone number to ring open 8am-7pm mon-fri.

I gave it a call expecting a long wait. I didn't expect "All lines are busy...try later....goodbye....." !

[mike42]

Just in case anyone cares, I went to a licence ready post office today.

Bloke there isn't DVLA obvisouly but he probably knows a lot more than me. He said my failure to apply online was almost certainly due to the licence having already expired. He also said it would be pointless giving me an IDP now because my current licence driver number would change slightly so there would be a missmatch beteeen IDP and uk licence.

Another point those like me with a keen interest in the detail of licence applications is that they have a decent photo booth which they use as part of the licence process. However, they can't use it for anything else! The IDP needs a physical photo and they can't produce it. The coin operated booth in that post office was out of order and so was the other one I checked. Maybe they're not being maintained during covid?

Whatever the reason, having an all singing all dancing but dedicated licence booth that does'nt function as a printer seems to be to be short sighted. I'm ok though as can produce them from my own printer with photo printer. Its not easy though.

[Ledaig]

mike42 said:

Just in case anyone cares, I went to a licence ready post office today.

Bloke there isn't DVLA obvisouly but he probably knows a lot more than me. He said my failure to apply online was almost certainly due to the licence having already expired.

Not true, I did mine yesterday after seeing it had expired on the 20th of June. Online application went through fine with the £14 fee paid.

Apparently due to having applied, I am now ok to drive whilst I await the new one to arrive despite the current one being out of date.
It does say I'll get a new photo which will be the one from my passport.

Out of curiosity I've just checked the application progress and it already states "Transaction Completed: Licence issued ".