Your Driving Licence

[peter d]

Did you know that if you have a photo driving licence there is an expire date on it?

I have just watched a Martin's tips and he said that your photograph only has a limited shelf life. I have checked this and he is right.

If you look at your licence, look for 4b that is the date your photograph life expires, if you do not renew your licence before this date and you are stopped by the police you could recieve a £1000 fine.

Here is the link and the relevant passage:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/NeedANewOrUpdatedLicence/DG_4022086

Renewing without a D46P ‘application for renewal’
If, for any reason, you don’t receive the reminder application forms you can use the D1 ‘application for a driving licence’. This form is available from the DVLA form ordering service and Post Office® branches.

You’ll also need to check the photo on your licence to be sure that it isn’t about to expire. The expiry date of your photo is shown in section 4b on the front of your driving licence.


Just checked mine and I have until September 2014.

[mikef]

Glad I've still got an old paper one

[dollybird]

That's very useful to know, thanks.

I've got the old paper one too. When I went to the Building Society the other day to take some money out, they would'nt accept it as proof of identity, but they would accept my credit cards. Wierd as you don't have a photo on your credit card either!

[Jacqueline]

When we moved we FORGOT to change our address on our driving licence.. remembered everything else..!! Bill was in the middle of a shunt and had to take his licence to the police station.. fortunately they over looked it and said he should get it changed or its a £1,000 fine..next time !!

[Moosilover]

Yes I was aware. But I only noticed it by chance. Plus they charge you for the privilege!

[barnsfield]

Being an ex-DVLA person I did know this but thanks for the reminder, although they do send you a reminder................and yes, Bev, they do charge you £20 for the privilege!

[bunnygirl]

£20!!!!!! how often do you have to re new it?. Mine is renewed every 3 years free of charge, but had better check Steve's.

Sharon

[Moosilover]

Sharon, every 10 years if memory serves me correctly. Ours had to be renewed last year.

Is yours renewable FOC on the grounds of a medical? And, do you have to change your photo, otherwise you may still have to renew that every 10 years anyway.

[graham21]

I had the 10yr renewal privelege last year as well,paid for a new photo but never had to use them as the post office had a renewal booth that took your photo and signature and sent it all online

[elvis]

I too have to have mine renewed every 3 years but never had to have a new photo.

[Elaine Freeman]

I have a paper one too, but need to update my card one next, year will ask if I can just have the paper one and not renew the card one....

[Rank.Top]

I have to point out that it is not necessarily the case that the photo on your licence has to be renewed on or before the date at 4b. 4b is in fact the expiry date of your licence and if a fresh photo is required then there will be a message on the top right hand corner of the renewal form "You can take this opportunity to renew the photo on your licence".
If there is no such message then you do not need to do so unless, of course, you choose to do it.
For example I have received my renewal form [D46P] for my licence which expires 18/01/2012. I am not required to provide a fresh photo which was last renewed in 2008
Hope this helps !
Trevor S

[Jacqueline]

I have a paper one too, but need to update my card one next, year will ask if I can just have the paper one and not renew the card one....

Didnt know you got the option ?

[Marlin]

I had to renew mine earlier this year but was able to do it on line as i have a digital passport and they took the photo from that but i still had to pay £20 for the priveledge

[barnsfield]

I have to point out that it is not necessarily the case that the photo on your licence has to be renewed on or before the date at 4b. 4b is in fact the expiry date of your licence and if a fresh photo is required then there will be a message on the top right hand corner of the renewal form "You can take this opportunity to renew the photo on your licence".
If there is no such message then you do not need to do so unless, of course, you choose to do it.
For example I have received my renewal form [D46P] for my licence which expires 18/01/2012. I am not required to provide a fresh photo which was last renewed in 2008
Hope this helps !
Trevor S

Trevor, sorry to have to correct you but the date shown in 4b is the date the photocard must be renewed. The expiry of the licence is a different date altogether and shown on the reverse of the photocard and on its paper counterpart. My driving licence doesn't expire until 23/12/2025 but my photocard expires on 02/06/2013.

[peter d]

I have also rechecked this and as Sandra says, 4b gives the date your photograph must be renewed.

[Dave H]

Sandra my understanding of the photo date is,you are not licenced to drive if photo out of date.this occures when the photo is over ten years old.
i renewd mine on line,cost £20. they used my passport photo(which the gov have) no need to send it in,but must not be more than 5yrs old
Hope this helps
Dave

[Rank.Top]

Hi Sandra,
I agree that 4b is the date of expiry of the photocard and that the date can differ from the Category validity periods on the Counterpart D/Lic, which show when entitlement begins and ends. However, the photocard is clearly headed "Driving Licence" and that's why I refered to 'licence" expiry.
In my case, the photocard date, licence expiry date, counterpart and renewal form [D46P] all refer to the same date.
With regard to photo renewal, there will be a notice on the renewal form to indicate this.
In my case [age 70+] I did not have to renew it and the last one was provided in 2008.
Regards
Trevor S