driving licence

[ruthann58]

my husband and i both hold the old style paper driving licence , a friend told me today that they are no longer legal and we will be fined if we are asked to produce them as they are not the photo card type is this correct

[dzug]

It's total rubbish - they remain valid until they expire on your 70th birthday.

[Postdog]

I belive they are not valid anywhere else in the EU and some other countries, but if you are not going abroad, no problem.

[Buenchico]

As Dzug has stated, a paper driving licence remains valid (other than in exceptional circumstances, such as severe health problems) up until the holder's 70th birthday. The holder then has to apply for a new licence, which will be in photocard form.

Paper licences also remain valid throughout the EU, but individual foreign car hire companies are free to set their own rules about whether they'll accept them or not.

Chris

[ambassabuild]

I got done the other week for speeding and had to produce my licence at the station, I was told there ,that it has to be sent off for the points and it may be replaced by a photocard type, I have just had the licence returned, and it still is my paper one, with no mention of alternative, so I guess they are still legal.

[paraffin]

You have nothing to worry about. The facts are:

1. The old style paper licences are no longer being made but ones already in use are still valid.

2. If you have a paper one and are approaching your 70th birthday, DVLA will automatically send you notification to change to the new type of licence 90 days before that birthday.

Happy driving.

[dzug]

They are legally valid anywhere in the world that has signed up to one of the international conventions on driving licences.

Some countries insist that you have an IDP as well - which is just an official translation of it with your photo.

And some car hire companies make their own rules - but that's up to them. Nothing to do with the law in their countries.

[kempie]

Old-style paper driving licences currently still retain their original validity (i.e. until the holder's 70th birthday) but the legislation is already in place for the mandatory surrender of these licences. Whenever the Government sees fit to implement the compulsory exchange of paper licences for photocard licences I would expect there to be a major information campaign and enough media interest so that nobody should be left in any doubt as to what constitutes a valid type of driving licence.