Over 70 Driving Licence Renewal

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

(or maybe not)

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Just received my reminder from DVLA to apply for my driving licence renewal. In the envelope is the form, return envelope and a 'flier' suggesting on-line renewal.

Not having any sort of computer phobia I opt for on-line and go the appropriate bit of the gov.uk website (typed in the address from the flier so definitely in the right place) perhaps a little bit phobic then!

Fill in all the boxes, no problem, apart from having to find my Driver number, my Passport number, my National Insurance number, my Mothers maiden name etc. And yes they really do want all this.

Having given away my identity it comes back with – 'Sorry you can't renew your licence online' – What!! I've just spent 15minutes typing in all this stuff and it doesn't work. In amongst other verbiage was the phrase ' We are unable to verify your identity on-line', odd as I've just given them every possible means of ID known to man.

So I resorted to the old fashioned way and submitted the renewal form only downside being they want a photo but strangely none of the other information. No passport number no supporting documentation in fact no proof of identity at all bar the old licence.

Totally bewildered by the incongruity of the two methods of renewal seems completely illogical. Apparently they can't do it if there is no digital signature on your passport (post 2017), not that they mention that anywhere.

Then to add insult to injury they make you pay for a stamp on the return envelope.

(Got that moan of my chest, I fell better now )

John

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Bad luck, I got mine renewed online no problem and expect to be getting a second set of reminders next spring.

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

Sadly a worse insult is likely still to come. The DVLA are still in a total mess and your paper application will probably moulder in a warehouse in Swansea for many months before someone gets round to opening it.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dvla-coronavirus-covid-19-update#processing-dates-for-paper-applications

[Anonymous]

Posted by Journeyman on 30/11/2021 16:52:54:

Fill in all the boxes, no problem, apart from having to find my Driver number, my Passport number, my National Insurance number, my Mothers maiden name etc. And yes they really do want all this.

Having given away my identity it comes back with – 'Sorry you can't renew your licence online'

So presumably all that information they want has nothing to do with actual licence renewal but is simply to establish you are who you say you are online for security reasons.

But that means they have to have that info stored against your id for cross-checking purposes. If they don't …. 'Sorry you can't renew your licence online'

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

surely having a recent passport means all this information is available so the implication is that something no longer checks out.

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

I would have thought they knew who you are, especially if you tax your vehicle with them.

However it does not bode well for me as I will have to jump through the same hoops next May. For a start I do not have a valid passport. Then there is the paper driving license that I hold, they have probably not even logged those numbers into the computer.

Regards

Gray,

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Gentlemen ! IF you have renewed on line you will have been given a NEW licence (not a renewal ) and lost numerous classes of vehicle you used to be able to drive ! READ the small print ! ONLY if you have had a medical and eye test will your licence be RENEWED !

Eye test was free but the medical cost me £50, I saw a doctor in a hotel room 50 miles away for 5 mins, the only thing he did was my blood pressure and ask me what medication I was on if any, signed the paperwork and stamped it ! My old licence was a paper one ! Photo in the supermarket machine, £5 and my renewal was processed fairly quickly, with a bonus, by post ! My own doctor wanted 3 months to see me and £120, as I left the surgery the receptionist called me back and gave me a number to call ! Noel

Edited By noel shelley on 30/11/2021 17:36:48

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Hit back!

If Ur quack wants to sting you £120, make sure Inland Revenue know how much!

Currently feeling anti doc/chemist. Chemist not got repeat prescription, says ring doc. Ring doc and after listening to a lot of old twaddle, get told Ur no. 11 in que, cancel call. No 11 × say 5 mins = nearly an hour. Phone verbiage says use website, do that and b4 I can focus eyes on options, whole lot obliterated by full page of COVID rubbish. Get nowhere in any direction. Tried another visit to chemist and success! I ask them why it's so difficult to get repeats each month and they shrug. I will soon resort to order by phone and insist on delivery, just 2 b awkward like they are.

Feel better now!

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

All very strange! I've renewed mine twice. online. with no problems whatsoever.

Brian

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

At age 70 it all changes ! As my above post states ! If you passed your test of recent times, then there are numerous classes you will NOT get, eg trailer above 375Kg(I think ) Noel.

[Brian MorehenParticipant @brianmorehen85290]

I just sent all my paperwork together with a copy of my eye sight test haveing had reaccuring cataracts in both eyes since since my previous renewall 3 years ago . No problem everthing completed new licence arrived within 10 days.

Bee.M

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Never had had problem with either on line or old fashioned fill the form in and as for passport number etc whats the problem they need to know who is filling the on line form in !

H

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

When I renewed my driving licence at 70, I did not have a current passport and all I needed was to tick off the boxes saying that my eyesight had not changed and that there were no new health factors. As I said earlier, I will be getting another application form in the spring, the current licence only lasts 3 years.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

I am about 18 months away from being 70, if I understand this correctly I will loose some categories on my new licence. I at present enjoy caravanning so obviously tow a caravan, will I loose any entitlement to do this. As for proof of identity I find this very hard to comply with, passport expired about ten years ago and as I have no desire to travel abroad anymore plus I can no longer afford the travel insurance I don’t see the point in paying for a current passport. My driving license is an old green paper one, no photo on it the only photo Id I have is my buss pass. I find it very difficult proving who I am to banks and building societies etc.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Baz, you might be better off renewing your licence now, it will cost nothing but getting a passport size photo to fix on the form. I have changed my driving licence 4 times since 2007 with minimum bother. The only change at 70, might be the right to drive a minibus on a car licence, my motorcycle licence is still there along with my car licence.

Edited By old mart on 30/11/2021 19:26:57

[Andy StopfordParticipant @andystopford50521]

I don't know if its the same, but when I renew my HGV license (has to be done every 5 years if you're over 45), the fact of returning the old license, along with the application form and medical, seems to be sufficient proof that I am who I say I am.

By the way, £120 seems to be standard for GP-issued medicals. I use one of the meet-in-a-layby medics, they're usually about £50 – £60, including the eye-test.

Which reminds me, the wretched thing is due again this July.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Renewing early may not solve the problem as it is the fact that you have reached the age of 70 that is the defining point, an early renewal may expire on your 70th birthday ! BAZ As my second post stated, licences passed of recent times, only small trailers but when WE passed our tests you could tow almost any trailer and you still will be able to, subject to the current weight restrictions with regard to the towing vehicle. The 2 main losses are mini bus and 7.5 tonner. Noel.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

I had a paper licence when my age 70 renewal came up and I chose to go the online route, at that time I had a valid passport and they used the photo held by the passport office. When my next renewal came at age 73 my passport was expired and I chose not to renew as my globe trotting days were over, however they still used the expired photo held by the passport office and issued the renewed licence. I wonder if it will work the same when my renewal at 76 comes round ? I must say that renewing online was easy and the licence appeared within days, all painless. Dave W

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

yes it seems once 70 you don’t age (wish !) – even better my bus pass has a >10yr old photo

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

A bit like Dave W. Do it on-line. If possible. Sent mine off in the post (on-line would not work the second time I tried) nearly a month ago. Phoning them is useless. I just hope they actually received the application as I didn’t get a certificate of posting….

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Baz

I don't know about towing a caravan but if you want to retain your Class 1 licence to drive up to 7,5 tons you will need to complete a medical questionaire.
You need the Class 1 to drive a motorhome plated at above 3500kg which many are.

Emgee

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Yes all above correct. You will loose your 7.5 tonne limit if you apply online. To retain it you have to do it in writing with a medical declaration. Cousin just did his. No doctors note though. Just a declaration & then wait months for the licence to come back. His took over 2 1/2 months, but he now still has his 7.5 tonne limit on his. I won't bother as i have only ever driven a large commercial once many yrs ago. How many 70 year olds want to drive Heavy goods.

Steve.

[Richard Williamson 1Participant @richardwilliamson1]

I sent in my renewal on 7th July and am still waiting. I know they have got it as they returned ID info a few weeks ago.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Not many 70 year old want to drive HGV but there are a lot who drive motorhomes exceeding 3500kg maximum gross weight.

Emgee

Edited By Emgee on 01/12/2021 02:21:27

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