Driving licence invalid? Surely not?

[alfa daley]

Hi,

My colleague swears that if you haven't updated the address on your driving licence then it is invalid and therefore makes your insurance invalid. Now it sounds pretty unlikely to me, so long as you tell the insurer the correct information about where the car is kept enabling them to assess the risk correctly but he seemed convinced and says it's even in his policy doc. Surely there's a hell of a lot of uninsured drivers out there.

For the record mine is updated so no danger...

[sugerbear]

where would they send all the NIP's to if you dont update the address on your licence?

[SS2.]

alfa daley said:

My colleague swears that if you haven't updated the address on your driving licence then it is invalid and therefore makes your insurance invalid.

Tosh.

sugerbear said:

where would they send all the NIP's to if you dont update the address on your licence?

The address on a licence has got nothing to do with where NIPs are sent.

[geeks]

It is an offense though and carries up to a £1000 fine! I doubt it would invalidate your license/insurance.

[ewenm]

sugerbear said:

where would they send all the NIP's to if you dont update the address on your licence?

To the address on the V5, like normal.

[sinizter]

sugerbear said:

where would they send all the NIP's to if you dont update the address on your licence?

The address where the car is registered

[Dog Star]

I moved out from my parents place in 2006 and got my own house. Never changed the address. Moved again in 2003. I only actually sorted the licence out in 2005 when the French police took it off me and never sent it back.

[Fartomatic5000]

ewenm said:

To the address on the V5, like normal.

...and that doesn't have to be where you live either.

[R0G]

If I remember correctly ....

If the address or photo on the licence are not current then it invalidates the LICENCE but not the right to drive the categories on it

If I am correct then the driver can be charged with not having a valid licence

How insurers view that would depend on what it says in each policy

[sugerbear]

OK, I got it wrong, not the NIP. But where do they send the court summons to then ?

[Frix]

All that is required is that your driving licence has an address you can be contacted at. If it's not there is an offence as already mentioned of failing to update it. It doesn't inhibit your entitlement to drive.

[SS2.]

sugerbear said:

OK, I got it wrong, not the NIP. But where do they send the court summons to then ?

To the address of the person they believe to have been driving the vehicle at the material time, and that wouldn't be obtained from the alleged offender's driving licence.

[blearyeyedboy]

Funnily enough, my licence came up for its ten year renewal. I can always be contacted via my parents' house so I never bothered to update it.

When renewal documents came through, a copy was sent to my new address AND to my parents' house. My new photocard licence has my new address on it.

My car is registered at my new address.

What the OP's been told was never a concern for me, the DVLA or my insurers. They knew where to find me and I answered their queries when they came. Nobody threatened me with any fines; I was contactable at both addresses so it wasn't a problem.

[R0G]

Just called my insurer and they stated that the licence has nothing to do with the policy but they also stated that the driver must be legal to drive that category of vehicle for the insurance to remain valid

Conclusion - if address or photo on licence is not valid then that does not invalidate the policy because the driver still has the legal right to use the categories on that licence

Edited by R0G on Tuesday 9th October 16:50

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Insurance policies cover you if or have a valid licence or if you don't have a valid licence but have not been disqualified from holding a licence.

So insurance is still valid.