Allowing a license photo ID to expire

[EK993]

I am a Brit living in the US, am therefore not a UK resident and am not able to renew my UK driving license photo ID.

If I return to the UK in say 10 years time will I be able to renew the photo ID? The paper part of the license is still valid till I am 70.

Been reading conflicting information on various boards - some people saying that if an excessive amount of time has passed since photo ID expiration you need to sit your test again.

Can't find an answer on the DVLA website - does anyone have a definitive answer on this?

[R0G]

The photo expiring simply makes the licence itself invalid but not the categories on it so on returning you simply sort out a new photo

[Likes Fast Cars]

I’m in a similar situation, living OS and DVLA tells me that I cannot have a foreign address on your licence…. I received a letter 2 years ago to my old UK address (luckily I had it sent on to me) and it stated something like: if you do not update your photo you could be fined up to £1000…, (or similar wording), it said nothing about the licence being invalid. The actual date of validity indicates it is valid until age of 70 (as you say in your post).

I really do not know what people in our situation can do other than perhaps go to a DVLA office on a visit back to the UK and have a new photo done.

[Likes Fast Cars]

I’m in a similar situation, living OS and DVLA tells me that I cannot have a foreign address on your licence…. I received a letter 2 years ago to my old UK address (luckily I had it sent on to me) and it stated something like: if you do not update your photo you could be fined up to £1000…, (or similar wording), it said nothing about the licence being invalid. The actual date of validity indicates it is valid until age of 70 (as you say in your post).

I really do not know what people in our situation can do other than perhaps go to a DVLA office on a visit back to the UK and have a new photo done.

[DonnyMac]

I have some vague recollection of the official wording on driving without a license in your possession is that you must have obtained one and that there is nothing to stop you from getting another.

You are licensed, you merely do not have the documentary evidence - which in a digital world is pretty mute anyhow - I personally wouldn't worry, but it would be toward the top of my list of things to renew should I repatriate.

Presumably you have a foreign license as well by now?

[Leptons]

You must have a relative in the uk. Surely with a little backwards and forwards posting you could change your adress to their house and upgrade to a photocatd license.

[-crookedtail-]

Not strictly related but has something to do with the US and a UK photocard licence. I was sent there for a months training when I started my job. My photocard expired when I was there, its my fault for not updated before, but wasn't driving so it didn't matter.

However they very nearly didn't accept it has ID in bars/clubs as it had expired, bloody bizarre when it still had my DOB on it which is surely all that they were after!

Edited by -crookedtail- on Thursday 23 January 08:27

[Bill]

Likes Fast Cars said:

....and it stated something like: if you do not update your photo you could be fined up to £1000…

This is probably the issue. The DVLA don't do out of the ordinary (and frequently struggle with ordinary ) so I can see a "computer says no" type nightmare developing when you try to sort it in a few years. You could try to argue with them about a foreign address or you could just change your address to a relative's.

[EK993]

Thanks for the replies - I do still have a UK address as own a property there. However the DVLA site is very explicit in its wording that states you must be a UK resident to renew the photo ID. I am no longer a UK resident. If renewing the photo ID somehow changed my resident status it would cause all sorts of problems with tax both in the UK and US. The government gateway online portal is used for both tax returns and license renewal so I am wondering if the systems are connected.

Also - yes I do have a US driving license so am ok driving in UK for temporary visits.