DVLA - Photo on license is due to expire.

[PoppyAnna]

Hi Everybody,

I'm feeling little stressed. I have had a letter from the DVLA today (dated 12 Feb) to say that my photo will expire on my drivers license whilst we are away (three days into our trip to be precise). I have spoken to DVLA and they say that it is just the photo, not the license and I should check that this is acceptable to the Hire Company.

Has anybody else had this?

We booked our car hire through Car Hire 3000 and have Alamo out of and back to Miami.

We will both be driving but I tend to be the lead driver.

I'm soooo

I know there will be some of you that think I should have checked it........I didn't know they expired every ten years - another income generator, I guess. I haven't changed that much in ten years!

 

[aaronandterri]

I dont think id worry too much, its valid when you collect the car, and they wont ask to see it again after, and like you say the licence is still valid its just the photo????

 

[Laurafoster]

I always thought the car itself had an expiry date on it? And that the paper part remains valid. I would imagine that if you have both parts with you it should be ok. Could the DVLA not send you a letter/email to explain that it is the photo that expires? (Thats probably too helpful for them )


I do agree its annoying that it has to be changed every 10 years - but i guess so does most other photo documentation. I know mines due to expire in the next year or so too.

 

[Elise79]

Ok - Last year we had the same thing except with DH's licence - in the end I was lead driver and they looked at his licence and it was fine. The card does have an expiry date on it.

To be safe I did the bulk of the driving.

I have just renewed mine via the form and it took weeks I wished I had checked online as it doesn't say anywhere on the form about being able to do it online!

 

[LloydyLUFC]

It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act to drive with an expired photo card, so i would renew. Think more about being pulled by US police as opposed to getting away with it with hire company

 

[Debwid]

It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act to drive with an expired photo card, so i would renew. Think more about being pulled by US police as opposed to getting away with it with hire company

I think she would if there was time but there isn't! I had to send mine off earlier this year and it didn't take long to come back but it wasn't less than a week.

I probably wouldn't take the risk, just get your other half to drive.

 

[PoppyAnna]

I think she would if there was time but there isn't! I had to send mine off earlier this year and it didn't take long to come back but it wasn't less than a week.

I probably wouldn't take the risk, just get your other half to drive.

I have informed the Car Hire agent who was very understanding and quickly sent me a new voucher with DH as the driver. DH is TypeI Diabetic and it has cost me £70 today to change it to him as he is further risk (apparently). Perhaps I should bill the DVLA

 

[Debwid]

I know there will be some of you that think I should have checked it........I didn't know they expired every ten years - another income generator, I guess. I haven't changed that much in ten years!

You wont be the only one. I didn't know either but we have a system at work where you have to register your dates for MOT, Insurance and Licence expiry as I am an Essential Car User. When this system first came in I couldn't understand why they were asking that question and discovered the reason was the 10 years. I agree it is a money making racket. I have got older in the photos but it was obvious that the one from 10 years ago was still me!

 

[T16GEM]

I renewed dh's driving license last wk it took 5 days to come back to us, in fact he was still using a paper license!!! It was so dog eared that I decided to take matters into my own hands!

 

[PoppyAnna]

I renewed dh's driving license last wk it took 5 days to come back to us, in fact he was still using a paper license!!! It was so dog eared that I decided to take matters into my own hands!

I can't risk it Gem, she said they suddenly have a backlog at the mo. Lets face it, the letter was dated 12 feb so who knows how long the license itself could take to come back to me, even if I do you the post office official service. Just more admin and something else to worry about

 

[T16GEM]

I can't risk it Gem, she said they suddenly have a backlog at the mo. Lets face it, the letter was dated 12 feb so who knows how long the license itself could take to come back to me, even if I do you the post office official service. Just more admin and something else to worry about

Oh yes I understand that, I can't believe that the letter was dated the 12th feb! Unbeliveable!

 

[Claire L]

Even if you send the DL off to renew it you can still drive in this country and then still have the chance of it arriving back before you go. Plus even if it doesn't arrive before you go, it will be waiting for you when you get home so you can then drive as soon as you get home. If you drive on an expired licence you are committing an offence of 'Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence'.

Claire

 

[Disbabe]

Reading this made me panic to ask my hubby if his is due to expire - fortunately its not till December!
I've still got the old type, but just completed online for a new photo one. Just cut the old one in half to post back!! At least I'll get the new one within 10 days.