Licence expired

[hellsbuddha]

So this is embarrassing. I applied for a new driving licence 6 years ago. I probably never received it or I never changed the one in the wallet and I would have sent the old one back. I only found out when I tried to do an online bank check and it was invalid.

I have applied for a new one, but can the dvla impose a fine for not having a valid licence. I mean my licence is valid on the database, just not on a card in my possession.

Thanks

[paul_c123]

hellsbuddha said:

I tried to do an online bank check and it was invalid.

hellsbuddha said:

I mean my licence is valid on the database

Is it valid or invalid?

At the risk of making assumptions, do you mean you have an expired photocard part, but your licence to drive remains valid (for example until your 70th birthday, there's no sooner date for eg medical reasons etc). If that is the case, you can drive.

[Bill]

Do you mean the photo card rather than the licence itself?

[Mad Maximus]

If it’s in date on the system but you have an out of date card then it’s in date. Ask for a new card. Jobbed.

[hellsbuddha]

Sorry I wasn t clear. The photocard licence I have is invalid, however I have a licence to drive and it s been fine. I applied for a new photocard licence and I am not sure I ever received it. No medical issues and am under 70.

Reading the web they suggest that I can’t drive without a valid photocard licence. I didn’t think anyone checked anyone as the police can look me up and discover I have entitlement to drive.

I never thought about it as I could see the photocard licence in my wallet so assumed it was the correct one.

[Pica-Pica]

As i understand it, you are entitled to drive, you are licensed to drive, but you do not have in your possession an up to date photocard licence. Just apply for one. State that it is lost. If you have a valid passport, I believe they will take your image from that

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

My brother drove for four years on an out of date photocard licence. Yes he is one of those people who never checks anything, it took him months to realise his mortgage rate had ended and only because his card was refused as he was so overdrawn and he never checks his bank balance.

He just applied for another one and they sent it through the post. When I say he, I mean I did it all as he is so utterly hopeless that he has no idea what he is doing.

[Aretnap]

hellsbuddha said:

Reading the web they suggest that I can t drive without a valid photocard licence.

This is not correct. Your licence remains in force until your 70th birthday, unless you have a shorter duration one for medical reasons.

Separately to that, you are required to update the photograph every even years, but this is similar to the requirement to update your address when you move house. You commit an offence by not doing it whether you drive or not (albeit not an offence which many people are prosecuted for). You don't commit a further offence by driving having not done it. In the unlikely event that you were prosecuted for not updating the photograph the probably would be a fine but no points or ban.

Either you did complete applying for a new photocard stuff years ago - in which case you have a valid one, it's just lost (possibly in a Royal Mail sorting office), and you just need to report it lost and get a replacement. Or you never actually completed your application in the first place - in which case you do need to apply now to update the photograph, but you can keep driving in the meantime, and while in theory you could be fined for not doing it 6 years ago, in practice you are not going to be - the authorities will take the view that it's better late than never.

[E-bmw]

You are licenced to drive, you have a valid licence, it is just not currently in your possession.

Report lost to DVLA, move on with life, one will arrive in the post, no issues.

[vikingaero]

My Dad is over 70 and renews every 3 years. He forgot to renew one time and was involved in a non-fault accident. The Police breathalysed and checked everyone's details and found my Dad had the expired licence (by a month). I renewed his licence online for him the same day of the accident.

They charged him with driving without insurance, not an expired photo licence. It went to Court and I showed the magistrates the Policy wording which said something along the lines of: "holds a licence or is permitted to drive and is not disqualified from holding a licence" which proved he was covered. Frontline Police tend to jump in all guns blazing and assume "no licence = no insurance". Case dismissed, Police prosecutor got a small bking from the bench and said he would learn from it.

[Peterpetrole]

vikingaero said:

My Dad is over 70 and renews every 3 years. He forgot to renew one time and was involved in a non-fault accident. The Police breathalysed and checked everyone's details and found my Dad had the expired licence (by a month). I renewed his licence online for him the same day of the accident.

They charged him with driving without insurance, not an expired photo licence. It went to Court and I showed the magistrates the Policy wording which said something along the lines of: "holds a licence or is permitted to drive and is not disqualified from holding a licence" which proved he was covered. Frontline Police tend to jump in all guns blazing and assume "no licence = no insurance". Case dismissed, Police prosecutor got a small bking from the bench and said he would learn from it.

I've had a few Perry Mason moments myself in Court over the years but that one is a great one, well done.