Renewal At 73

[KARL]

Has anyone on here recently renewed a photo card driver's licence by post (i.e. not through the internet portal) post age 70, i.e having already gone through the "at 70" transition and now needing to renew ? I am particularly interested in how far in advance of expiry/birthday one can apply and whether one needs to send the existing licence to DVLA. I will need to be able to show my licence about a month before its expiry so need to have one or the other to hand. Furthermore, I will be abroad and wanting to drive there from shortly before my birthday - I understand it can take up to three weeks to process a renewal application.

[KARL]

I should have mentioned that the photo will be three years old at the expiry of the current licence.

[-SharonA-]

Check out this link, it may help.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/travel-hobbies/driving/

[Canary42]

I renewed mine online (at 76 - no new photo requested, still using one at 70), so not a complete answer but here are the dates in my case which might give you some idea of timescales.

27th April - Reminder received from DVLA
28th April - Online process completed
10th May - New licence received
15th May - Old licence returned (as per pledge given online)
16th July - date old licence actually expired, but new one was valid from when received.

With a postal application I don't know, but I would think you have to return the old one then and there or they won't issue a new one.

P.S. I've just checked my licence - it shows start date 5th May 2018, expiry date 21st July 2021 [sic]

[bhg481]

You can apply 90 days before your current one expires.
Why don't you want to renew via the internet? I've done that twice with no problem. You get your new licence very quickly (a week in my case) and then you are supposed to send your old one to DVLA. meaning that you always have a licence in your possession.

[KARL]

Thank you bhg, 90 days and only return of the old one afterwards is good news, if the latter applies to the postal way.

[bhg481]

I can really recommend online renewal, unless there's some reason it's not suitable for you.
https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70