Photo Id For Driving License

[taichiperson]

I'm applying to renew my paper license to a photo driving license, and for the life of me I can't find anything on the DVLA site as to who is a 'suitable' person to sign the back of my photo. I need to get it as soon as possible, and so far the people who I've come up with are either not available right now, or just about to go off on extended holiday. Help please!

[mazie]

This should help taichi...
Having your photo certified
If you are not required to provide an up-to-date UK or other EEA passport, UK travel document for identity purposes, or, If you’re providing identity documents other than an up-to-date UK or other EEA passport, UK travel document, you must get an authorised person to sign the back of your photo. This person must have known you personally for at least two years, must not be related to you in any way, and hold a NI driving licence which has been issued after 1 April 1999. The person signing your photo must also complete section six of your DL1 form. DVA will make random checks on people who sign photocard driving licence applications.

The person signing your photo must
live in the UK
know you personally (for at least two years)
not be a relative
Suitable people include
lay magistrate or Justice of the Peace
a minister of religion
a professionally qualified person, for example, a lawyer, teacher or engineer
a librarian
a local business person or shopkeeper
a local councillor, MP, MLA, MEP or MSP
a bank or building society officer
an established civil servant
a police officer

[taichiperson]

Thankyou, that's exactly what I wanted :)

[Prudie]

https://www.gov.uk/renew-photo-driving-licence#what-you-need-to-know

This implies that you don't get anyone, including yourself, to sign the photo. It's not a passport application

[taichiperson]

The problem is, I don't have a passport - have never travelled abroad. So I have a few hoops to jump through in order to prove my identity. It's annoying to get the proof I need - but then if it was easy, it would also be easy to get bogus ID.

[mazie]

I applied for one 2 years ago and I didn't have a passport either taichi. Got the policeman next door to sign my form and the back of the Photos. It came fairly quickly once I'd posted it off. Good luck with it. If you're having problems just phone the DVLA, they'll put you right. Good Luck x

[taichiperson]

I can't see anything on the form that needs to be signed by the other party, but I'll check. Luckily I have a friend who is a solicitor - going to drop the photo off with her and it'll be done in a jiffy :)_

[beezaneez]

i sent mine away yesterday to dva, i called them and they told me i didnt need photo signed and they also told me i didnt need to hand in id such as birth cert or passport etc. this was for a replacement licence which cost me £30 payable by postal order or chegue, do not do it online as it wioll cost you £80 for some strange reason i dont know.

[north star]

The list of 'suitable' people that mazie referenced really gets my goat. What qualities make these professions suitable, whereas a road sweeper or a shop assisstant is presumably 'unsuitable'

[sunny-dave]

It's £20 online, beezaneez - there are some ripoff sites that pretend to be 'official' and charge more for 'assisting you' - but the official government site is here :

https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-to-replace-a-driving-licence

[gsr600]

also make sure you photocopy the groups you are entitled to drive ie:
If you have a full motorcycle license etc
as in the past they have not transferred all the relevant groups to the new License,
meaning any test you had previously Passed may need to be retaken at great expense.

[sunny-dave]

Don't just photocopy gsr600 - keep the original pink/green licence and apply for the photocard saying "I've lost the original" - at least you have some real proof then, that they will have to accept.

[jno]

in theory you still need the paper licence when driving in some parts of the world, eg they say you have to show it when hiring a car in the USA. In fact I've never been asked to show one anywhere, anytime. But I never sent it in when I applied for the photo licence years ago, so I still have it.

[EDDIE51]

yes, if you Google 'driving licence application' the first sites that come up are the 'rip off' ones that charge a extra fee of up to £60 on top of the application fee. make sure you use the correct one as dave says.