Driving License

[Bazile]

Are you in the 2 million category ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20968886

This story has got me thinking .
If you have the old style, solely paper license - is that still valid ?

[Traci66]

I have the old style paper license and as far as I'm aware this is still valid. I can't recall there being anything about having to get the new style unless you were changing your address or name. I'm sticking with mine to save having to renew it every ten years.

[Baldric]

http://blog.greenflag.com/2017/keeping-driving-licence-date-vital/

What if I have a paper licence?
If you have a paper licence, and your name and address have not changed, you don’t have to change it to a photocard version, as it remains valid. However, these do expire, usually the day before the driver’s 70th birthday. Once you apply to renew it, a photocard will be issued.

[Bazile]

Mine's a bit frayed and held together my sellotape

[fiction-factory]

That story was from 2013. It said paper licences would have to be replaced by photo licences in 2015 but I recall this idea was scrapped. Whether Brexit will affect things or people will demand old style green or pink licences to celebrate our exit from the EU I don't know

[johnny.5]

don't the dvla know who you are and where you live from your vehicle ownership details? and insurance details ?

[sddsddean]

As said, old style paper licences are perfectly valid , as long as all details are still correct. You would only need to change your licence if you change your name, change address, add or remove vehicle classes. However, it will become non valid at 00:01 on your 70th birthday. Then you will have to change to a photocard licence...unless you want to surrender it and give up driving!!

[THECORBYLOON]

I tried to use my paper driving licence as ID in a bank a few month ago but they'd not accept it as it was in about 8 bits. It'd separated along the folds but I suppose I could have got bits from different licences in an attempt to commit fraud...

[Tilly2]

Mine is very dog eared now. It sits in my purse doing absolutely nothing.

[bhg481]

I'm not certain but I'm not sure that paper licences are valid outside the UK.

[angie55]

I’ve driven in America with my paper UK licence and never had a problem.

[ABerrant]

"It said paper licences would have to be replaced by photo licences in 2015..."

That is just bad journalism. There was no official announcement prior to 2015 that photocard licences would become mandatory in that year, but rather that paper counterparts to the photocard were to be abolished, which they were on 8th June 2015.

The BBC seem to have lifted the story from the DM which included the erroneous statement but failed to include this more accurate final statement -

The warning comes as the Government prepares to abolish the need for a fiddly paper ‘counterpart’ to accompany the photocard driving licence as part of its ‘Red Tape Challenge’ to cut down on paperwork.
A spokesman said: ‘As part of a Government-wide process to get rid of unnecessary, burdensome and overcomplicated regulation, the Department for Transport is, among other measures, scrapping the regulation requiring motorists to hold a paper counterpart to their driving licence by 2015 at the latest.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2257383/2m-drivers-dont-know-licence-invalid-face-fines-1-000.html

[Malachite]

My (paper) license says it's "valid until" 2033. Still proudly holding it :-) I did the speed patronisation course in 2015 because I got caught doing 35 in a 30 limit and no one raised an issue about my license.

[Malachite]

...and it's in "as new" condition because it lives in a plastic sleeve :-)

[bhg481]

Expanding on my comment at 22:31 last night ("I'm not certain but I'm not sure that paper licences are valid outside the UK" ), I've realised what led me to that thought. About 10 years ago we planned a trip to Spain and I volunteered to swap my paper licence for a photocard, which cost me £10. Not being one to pay £10 for no reason I racked my brains and remembered that for Spain, if you had a paper licence, it was recommended that you had a translation or an IDP. Since IDPs last only 1 year and future trips to Spain were likely, I decided the long-term cheapest option was to swap my paper licence for a photocard. Also back in the 1980s it was necessary to supplement a UK licence with an IDP for USA use; this has now changed and is no longer necessary.

[New Judge]

"don't the dvla know who you are and where you live from your vehicle ownership details? and insurance details ?"

There is no connection on the DVLA database between Registered Keeper (RK) details of vehicles and personal driving licence details. Many people who move house update their licence but neglect to update the RK details on their car. This means that any notifications of speeding and other offences detected by camera go to their old address. This causes them considerable grief as they often end up convicted in their absence of "Failing to supply drivers' details". (The first stage after an offence is detected is to write to the RK to establish who was driving). The offence carries a hefty fine, six points and insurance grief for a number of years.

[playersdigger]

As far as I know DVLA informs the driver when a new photo is needed. In the case of the paper licence. If you still have it should be valid. Why not check with DVLA to be sure. In my casecond my licence runs out in August unless I pass the Over 70 medical test.This is every 3 years after 70.

[RobNorth]

Digger:
There is no over 70 medical test - it is a self declaration of fitness to drive which you need to sign every 3 years from age 70 to replace your license at no cost.

[jno]

when last I heard - whch was some years ago - if you wanted to drive in the USA you had to have the paper licence to hire a car. In practice, nobody every asked for mine but I always took it just in case.