Old-style green paper driving licence? Check it!

[sunbeam alpine]

Following on from https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... - if you still drive on an old green paper driving licence, it might be worth checking that it's still valid!

You can do this on the DVLA website - https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence (you also need your National Insurance number)

Here's why -

I've just had a complete nightmare exchanging my UK driving licence for a Belgian one (which was necessary because of Brexit). It should have been quite straightforward - I went to our local town hall, filled in the forms over here, they took a photocopy of my UK driving licence, paid my fees - and waited.

After 4 days I received a message to return to the town hall. I went, expecting to collect my nice shiny licence, only to be told it couldn't be done!

They showed me the mail they had received from the DVLA which said "Mr Sunbeam Alpine does not hold a valid UK driving licence" - no more details were given! At that point they (the Belgian authorities) advised me that as they had been informed that I had no valid driving licence, I should not drive AT ALL until this was sorted. Massive panic!

I contacted the DVLA - in fairness they were always polite and friendly on the phone, and answered mails very promptly - but they couldn't actually help very much. The only record they had was my provisional licence issued in 1981 - no record of tests passed - nothing. I must have existed on the system until some time in the 90's as I had 3 speeding offences and points on my licence in that period.

I sent them a scan of my licence (which they accepted was genuine) and they started an investigative procedure. At the same time I was lobbying here in Belgium - at this stage I was unable to drive, which is an unbelievable hassle - and fortunately someone in Brussels took the pragmatic view, accepted my licence, and authorised the issue of a Belgian licence. In total I was unable to drive for nearly 2 weeks - enough to realise what a privilege it is to be able to drive.

I hate to think what would have happened had I been stopped by the police in the UK and they had looked me up on the computer! I know there are traffic police on here - it would be interesting to know how you would handle this - being shown a UK licence and the computer saying it didn't exist.

The reason for this lengthy post is to warn anyone who still drives on an old-style licence to check it out - you can do it using the link I posted above.

Edited by sunbeam alpine on Friday 8th March 09:17

[The Mad Monk]

sunbeam alpine said:

I've just had a complete nightmare

If that is the worst nightmare that you experience, you will have done pretty well.

Get a grip!

[sunbeam alpine]

The Mad Monk said:

sunbeam alpine said:

I've just had a complete nightmare

If that is the worst nightmare that you experience, you will have done pretty well.

Get a grip!

The purpose of my post was to raise awareness of a potential problem with the old style green paper licences, not to look for sympathy. The fact that you view t differently says much more about you than me.

[gareth_r]

sunbeam alpine said:

...I sent them a scan of my licence (which they accepted was genuine) and they started an investigative procedure...

This is the most surprising part of the OP.

Everybody knows that the DVLA has never made a mistake.

[Dixy]

They have started an investigation not admitted a mistake. The investigation will find the licence is a fake and they will fine him £2000.

[sunbeam alpine]

gareth_r said:

sunbeam alpine said:

...I sent them a scan of my licence (which they accepted was genuine) and they started an investigative procedure...

This is the most surprising part of the OP.

Everybody knows that the DVLA has never made a mistake.

To be strictly accurate, they sent me an email with a case number, stating that they would start an investigation, and that I would hear something within 3 days. If the investigation looked like it would take longer than 3 days, they would still contact me that inform me of the fact. That was on 1st February. I've not heard from them since...

ETA: Dixy posted while I was writing this - it's a better interpretation.

[Gilhooligan]

Didn’t DVLA have a similar records keeping fail where people, who had passed their bike test years ago, went to change their old paper driving licence to the new format card one. Found that when they received it, they had lost their bike licence part and DVLA had no record of them ever passing their test!

[eybic]

Gilhooligan said:

Didn’t DVLA have a similar records keeping fail where people, who had passed their bike test years ago, went to change their old paper driving licence to the new format card one. Found that when they received it, they had lost their bike licence part and DVLA had no record of them ever passing their test!

Yes, very dodgy.

eta: Whenever I need to send my licence off for changes, I always make sure to take a copy before sending it, also worthwhile doing a printout from the online portal confirming your entitlements.

Edited by eybic on Friday 8th March 10:27

[Cliftonite]

Gilhooligan said:

Didn’t DVLA have a similar records keeping fail where people, who had passed their bike test years ago, went to change their old paper driving licence to the new format card one. Found that when they received it, they had lost their bike licence part and DVLA had no record of them ever passing their test!

A police motor-cyclist found he had no valid licence - in DVLA records anyway! He had to re-take the L test. He used his fully-liveried Police bike for it! (He passed).

[surveyor]

The Mad Monk said:

If that is the worst nightmare that you experience, you will have done pretty well.

Get a grip!

Ignore mad monk.. he has a chip on his shoulder and likes to make pointless points.

[chow pan toon]

The Mad Monk said:

If that is the worst nightmare that you experience, you will have done pretty well.

Get a grip!

4242 posts of complete ste. Good effort.

[WinstonWolf]

I love my old paper licence, I just checked and it appears I've even got this.

Category : D1E Restrictions apply
Description
You can drive Passenger Carrying Vehicles with a minimum of 9 and maximum of 16 passenger seats, and a driver, with a trailer over 750kg

[chopper602]

I wonder how much longer I'll be able to hang onto my green licence . . . Haven't moved house since 1998, so I was one of the last paper ones issue!

[Bigends]

Still have my pink one. Havent moved since 1987 or needed any other amendments

[Earthdweller]

Interesting post

I have a UK licence

I am now resident in Ireland and have two cars in the Republic .. one of the insurers is now saying that UK licences won’t be accepted after 30/3 and I must get an Irish one

But.. I also have an address in the UK and have a pair of cars there, registered taxed and insured there

I also work in the UK .. and need a UK licence for that work

If the UK is no longer part of the E.U. then Id assume i can have a UK and and E.U. licence .. but apparently not

Now, I have family that live in the US and have both E.U. and US licences

A Brexit problem for petrol heads

[sunbeam alpine]

Earthdweller said:

Interesting post

I have a UK licence

I am now resident in Ireland and have two cars in the Republic .. one of the insurers is now saying that UK licences won’t be accepted after 30/3 and I must get an Irish one

But.. I also have an address in the UK and have a pair of cars there, registered taxed and insured there

I also work in the UK .. and need a UK licence for that work

If the UK is no longer part of the E.U. then Id assume i can have a UK and and E.U. licence .. but apparently not

Now, I have family that live in the US and have both E.U. and US licences

A Brexit problem for petrol heads

If it helps, the DVLA seem to be taking a much more flexible, "user-friendly" approach to this than most EU countries. I suspect it could be easier to have a licence from an EU member country and use that in the UK, than the other way round.

I'm in the same boat regarding cars - I still have 3 on UK plates which are still registered to my UK address. 2 are here in Belgium and one is in the UK. Yet to sort that little lot out!

[Taita]

Just checked my licence, I've lost my A2 motorbike licence entitlement - I did the DAS scheme shortly before the MOD 1 / MOD 2 things came into force. As I remember it, it had to be under 33bhp for 2 years, then it became unrestricted.

Brilliant.

I assume there is no record on the DVLA end?

[sunbeam alpine]

Taita said:

Just checked my licence, I've lost my A2 motorbike licence entitlement - I did the DAS scheme shortly before the MOD 1 / MOD 2 things came into force. As I remember it, it had to be under 33bhp for 2 years, then it became unrestricted.

Brilliant.

I assume there is no record on the DVLA end?

There was a post earlier in the thread stating that even a police motorcyclist had to retake his test. How long ago did you take the test?

[catso]

Earthdweller said:

Id assume i can have a UK and and E.U. licence .. but apparently not

The UK will (at the moment - who knows after Brexit?) exchange an EU licence for a UK licence but they won't let you keep your EU jobbie but there is nothing to stop you taking a test in the EU country, that would leave you with both licences.

We moved to Italy when I was young and so I passed my car and bike tests in Italy. On my return I had to take a UK (car) test within 12 months and so then had both UK and Italian licences.

Shortly afterwards they offered 'exchanges' for EU licences and so rather than take another test (for bike entitlement) I swapped the Italian licence for a UK version.

Rules were either different or more 'relaxed' in Italy as my Sister had a UK licence when we moved there and was given an Italian licence without needing to surrender the UK version, although this was many years ago I assume the licence is still technically valid? - other than her not residing at the address shown on it...

[Bigends]

Taita said:

Just checked my licence, I've lost my A2 motorbike licence entitlement - I did the DAS scheme shortly before the MOD 1 / MOD 2 things came into force. As I remember it, it had to be under 33bhp for 2 years, then it became unrestricted.

Brilliant.

I assume there is no record on the DVLA end?

Just checked mine online - I took the old test back in the early 80's. Still have my full bike ticket