Licence expired - driving allowed when?
Discussion
Hi
My wife is about have a cardiac arrest as she's realised her licence expired and she can't apply online due to her maiden name having changed on her passport and there is therefore a discrepancy which needs verification (even though she still has a note on it that she uses it for professional purposes).
She is planning to go to the nearest Post Office tomorrow but it seems unclear when you can actually drive. The advice seems to be that whilst the DVLA are "processing" the application she can drive but does that mean once she's submitted it at the Post Office tomorrow or when the DVLA start processing it (which would be hard for her to know)?
Please could someone who knows the actual answer respond (I don't want responses like "the chances of her getting caught are low" or "why did she let it happen" etc). She won't drive until she knows the answer but really needs her car for work and is, err, shall we say worried about it!
Thanks in any advance for any help guys,
Steve
My wife is about have a cardiac arrest as she's realised her licence expired and she can't apply online due to her maiden name having changed on her passport and there is therefore a discrepancy which needs verification (even though she still has a note on it that she uses it for professional purposes).
She is planning to go to the nearest Post Office tomorrow but it seems unclear when you can actually drive. The advice seems to be that whilst the DVLA are "processing" the application she can drive but does that mean once she's submitted it at the Post Office tomorrow or when the DVLA start processing it (which would be hard for her to know)?
Please could someone who knows the actual answer respond (I don't want responses like "the chances of her getting caught are low" or "why did she let it happen" etc). She won't drive until she knows the answer but really needs her car for work and is, err, shall we say worried about it!
Thanks in any advance for any help guys,
Steve
SS2. said:
In that case (and assuming you're not in Northern Ireland where I think things are different),her licence to drive has not expired - just the photocard.
The offence of failing to renew (or return) a photocard is committed whether or not you are actually driving.
Thanks for this info, very helpful. Mind you the reminder from the DVLA (that she has now found!) states that the licence itself expires every 10 years and if you do not renew it you could lose your entitlement to drive and not be able to get insurance, face prosecution if stopped by police etc which sounds like it ought to be an endorsable offence. In England btw not NI. The offence of failing to renew (or return) a photocard is committed whether or not you are actually driving.
Thanks again,
Steve
SS2. said:
Failing to renew or return an expired photocard carries a maximum fine of £1,000. It isn't endorsable.
It's an administrative offence and is committed whether or not you get behind the wheel.
Simply apply for a new photocard and don't stress it.
Thanks - I shall see if I can calm her down.... I'm administering wine at the moment :-) It's an administrative offence and is committed whether or not you get behind the wheel.
Simply apply for a new photocard and don't stress it.
carreauchompeur said:
Is it just the photo card expiry? She will be fine to drive in the meantime if so.
This. Its only your photo, your licence is still valid.
Mine expired for 5 years and it made absolutely no difference hiring a van for our euro trips ect. Even had it looked at by police when pulled for tinted glass on a car I'd just took in when drivi g to get it cleaned.
It really is nothing to worry about.
Forget the '£1k fine', it just doesn't and won't happen..
A1VDY said:
This.
Its only your photo, your licence is still valid.
Mine expired for 5 years and it made absolutely no difference hiring a van for our euro trips ect. Even had it looked at by police when pulled for tinted glass on a car I'd just took in when drivi g to get it cleaned.
It really is nothing to worry about.
Forget the '£1k fine', it just doesn't and won't happen..
Forgot mine for five years too - only got it sorted when the French banned me and never sent it back. Probably because I’d moved house sense....Its only your photo, your licence is still valid.
Mine expired for 5 years and it made absolutely no difference hiring a van for our euro trips ect. Even had it looked at by police when pulled for tinted glass on a car I'd just took in when drivi g to get it cleaned.
It really is nothing to worry about.
Forget the '£1k fine', it just doesn't and won't happen..
Try to get her to go to a Post Office that has a photo booth used for this purpose, i.e documents requiring photos with criteria for the photo itself. I tried taking photos of my wife to renew online and after many rejections for varying reasons ( shadows, background , others ....no smutty comments please) I sent her to the PO. Took just a few minutes and no issues at all.
It amazes me that the quality of the photo license photo that comes back is poor yet they require such a high level of conformance!
Similar for renewal of passports. However those we took passed the online scrutiny with only a couple of rejections.
It amazes me that the quality of the photo license photo that comes back is poor yet they require such a high level of conformance!
Similar for renewal of passports. However those we took passed the online scrutiny with only a couple of rejections.
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