Expired Licence - Can I Drive - Renewal Posted?

[cammer]

hi - i live in uk (n ireland).

my driving licence expired 2/3 - i only received the reminder 9/3.

i posted renewal form yesterday (1st class recorded) -phoned dvla & they said there is a back log of 8 weeks but if they've received the renewal application it's ok.

anyone experience of this? - is it a grey area? need car to get to work.

[Mothersruin]

Given I was able to drive a hire car on a licence that had expired years before, the rental firm called dvla to check my details, I'd say it was fine - but I'd be checking with the Police or dvla first thing.

[Nigel Worc's]

I have experience of driving with an expired medically restricted licence, but I had to jump through a few hoops (it was expired because DVLA were behind in their paperwork, the hoops were a letter from my GP saying in his opinion I was fit to drive, and a letter from my insurance saying I'd notified them, and they were happy to continue covering me).

Why has your licence "expired" ?

[cammer]

Nigel Worc's said:

Why has your licence "expired" ?

over 10 years old.

btw my insurance company said they would cover me & the DVLA said it was ok but i'm always wary with nothing in writing as i got caught out one time.

[Nigel Worc's]

cammer said:

Nigel Worc's said:

Why has your licence "expired" ?

over 10 years old.

btw my insurance company said they would cover me & the DVLA said it was ok but i'm always wary with nothing in writing as i got caught out one time.

Someone will be along to give you chapter and verse, but your licence hasn't expired, the photograph has.

[BigLion]

cammer said:

over 10 years old.

btw my insurance company said they would cover me & the DVLA said it was ok but i'm always wary with nothing in writing as i got caught out one time.

If you did it online they would use your passport photo and you get it in a few days...

[cammer]

BigLion said:

cammer said:

over 10 years old.

btw my insurance company said they would cover me & the DVLA said it was ok but i'm always wary with nothing in writing as i got caught out one time.

If you did it online they would use your passport photo and you get it in a few days...

thanks mate but no online application in N.Ireland

[cammer]

Nigel Worc's said:

cammer said:

Nigel Worc's said:

Why has your licence "expired" ?

over 10 years old.

btw my insurance company said they would cover me & the DVLA said it was ok but i'm always wary with nothing in writing as i got caught out one time.

Someone will be along to give you chapter and verse, but your licence hasn't expired, the photograph has.

cheers but still in a quandary.

[Huff]

Nigel Worc's said:

Someone will be along to give you chapter and verse, but your licence hasn't expired, the photograph has.

That.
Just because the photocard renewal date has passed, does not invalidate your licence to drive overall. (subject to whatever other endorsements or restrictions you may have!)

Edited by Huff on Saturday 11th March 03:38

[Oilchange]

Don't be.

cammer said:

cheers but still in a quandary.

[so called]

cammer said:

Nigel Worc's said:

Why has your licence "expired" ?

over 10 years old.

btw my insurance company said they would cover me & the DVLA said it was ok but i'm always wary with nothing in writing as i got caught out one time.

I think that your biggest concern is your insurance and they have said your OK.
On that basis and that you have discussed with the DVLA, I would stop worrying and carry on driving.
I've still got my old paper one.
Must get that sorted.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

so called said:

I think that your biggest concern is your insurance and they have said your OK.

If anyone looks at their certificate, underneath where it says who can drive, it'll say words to the effect of "provided that person holds a licence to drive or has held a licence and is not disqualified from doing so."

That validates your insurance even if your licence had expired because you'd reached 70 and not renewed it. But as said, in this case it's just your photocard that's expired.

[caelite]

Honestly cant say for 10 year renewals. I know for medical renewals (mine is 3 year) the DVLA give you a 12 month window from the date you send your renewal paperwork well the DVLA medical board do... whatever it is that they do. The only time where this is not the case is where your GP/Consultant has advised you not to drive.

Not sure for a normal renewal but I can imagine there is a similar leeway provided you have sent the paperwork off.

[vonhosen]

cammer said:

Nigel Worc's said:

cammer said:

Nigel Worc's said:

Why has your licence "expired" ?

over 10 years old.

btw my insurance company said they would cover me & the DVLA said it was ok but i'm always wary with nothing in writing as i got caught out one time.

Someone will be along to give you chapter and verse, but your licence hasn't expired, the photograph has.

cheers but still in a quandary.

Don't be.
Your licence to drive has not expired, the date for that is on the reverse side next to each respective category held.
The expiry date on the front (4b) is for the photo card.
It's an offence for you to not renew or return photo card before expiry. You commit that if you are driving or not.
You are fine to drive as long as you are still in date on the reverse & it's unlikely you'll get prosecuted for the photo card expiry if you get it sorted now. Either way you driving or not driving makes zero difference now in relation to the photo card expiry matter.
Think of the reverse as your driving licence & the front as your photo card.

[jackh707]

I've just renewed mine.
Took 10 days to come back. And I made adjustments to title and had restrictions removed.

Pretty good IMHO.

[Aretnap]

The advice that it's the photo, not the licence itself which expires is correct in Great Britain. However the OP's in Northern Ireland. I seem to remember that the law in Northern Ireland is different, and that over there the licence itself expires after 10 years - which would mean that the OP could not (legally) drive until the licence is actually renewed, or possibly until his application is received (not sure which).

It's possible that I'm mistaken, and on a quick search I can't find the relevant order for Northern Ireland to check; however I'd warn the OP to be cautious of acting on any advice which is based on GB law if he has an NI licence.

Edited by Aretnap on Saturday 11th March 14:25

[chilistrucker]

caelite said:

Honestly cant say for 10 year renewals. I know for medical renewals (mine is 3 year) the DVLA give you a 12 month window from the date you send your renewal paperwork well the DVLA medical board do... whatever it is that they do. The only time where this is not the case is where your GP/Consultant has advised you not to drive.

Not sure for a normal renewal but I can imagine there is a similar leeway provided you have sent the paperwork off.

DVLA medical board, the "DMG" can ruin your life.

Sorry I know I shouldn't but I couldn't resist as they give me so much to work with
3 months has passed now since they started the current review, and they still haven't dealt with the first issue yet.

I suppose its good to know their muppetry continues at its highest level.

[stevensdrs]

Your photocard has expired, not your licence. You still have entitlement to drive. You can check this yourself by going on the website https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.

[Red Devil]

Aretnap said:

The advice that it's the photo, not the licence itself which expires is correct in Great Britain. However the OP's in Northern Ireland. I seem to remember that the law in Northern Ireland is different, and that over there the licence itself expires after 10 years - which would mean that the OP could not (legally) drive until the licence is actually renewed, or possibly until his application is received (not sure which).

NI is indeed different. Entitlements are only for 10 years, not until aged 70 as in the rest of the UK.
Once the application has been received though you're good to go.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/renew-your-dr...
If the DVA (note: not DVLA!) has confirmed this to the OP he has nothing to worry about.

Other differences are:

NI has different categories
https://www.gov.uk/old-driving-licence-categories
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-servic...

The counterpart was not abolished.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-licence...

The Driver Number is a different format (8 digits)
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/photocard-dri...

Aretnap said:

It's possible that I'm mistaken, and on a quick search I can't find the relevant order for Northern Ireland to check; however I'd warn the OP to be cautious of acting on any advice which is based on GB law if he has an NI licence.

You're not. - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1981/154/articl...

On a different note, unlike the rest of the UK,* NI regularly closes roads for motorsport.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/all?title=road%20rac...

 * The only event this side of the Irish Sea was the Jim Clark Rally and that hasn't been held since the fatalties in 2014.
    It is ridiculous that it has taken nearly 3 years for the FAI to commence - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotla...

[Peperami]

vonhosen said:

cammer said:

Nigel Worc's said:

cammer said:

Nigel Worc's said:

Why has your licence "expired" ?

over 10 years old.

btw my insurance company said they would cover me & the DVLA said it was ok but i'm always wary with nothing in writing as i got caught out one time.

Someone will be along to give you chapter and verse, but your licence hasn't expired, the photograph has.

cheers but still in a quandary.

Don't be.
Your licence to drive has not expired, the date for that is on the reverse side next to each respective category held.
The expiry date on the front (4b) is for the photo card.
It's an offence for you to not renew or return photo card before expiry. You commit that if you are driving or not.
You are fine to drive as long as you are still in date on the reverse & it's unlikely you'll get prosecuted for the photo card expiry if you get it sorted now. Either way you driving or not driving makes zero difference now in relation to the photo card expiry matter.
Think of the reverse as your driving licence & the front as your photo card.

As per this... you're fine to drive.