If/when you need to change it to a photo card variety be aware of the following which I found on the pepipoo site. It’s well worth reading and remembering :
If you are forced to hand in your paper license and it is returned to the DVLA do NOT expect to see it again no matter what you are told. You will have to apply for a photo license.
If you enquire to the DVLA as to where it is, you will be told all sorts of ‘rubbish’ :
*We received it but cannot trace it at present.
*We will have an internal enquiry.
*It was sent back out to you.
*We do not keep records of when it was sent back.
*Please chase the Post Office to see where it has got to.
*Ask the PO to have an enquiry (!)
This is all Bull[zb]
When a non-photocard paper license is returned to the DVLA it is destroyed.
The DVLA states it is under no obligation to notify you of this.
They will try and tell you that you have to apply for a new license and it will cost you £19.
This again is Bull[zb].
The renewals section will process an application for your new license at no cost (excluding the photo that you have to supply) but when it is returned check it very carefully. Motorcycle and HGV entitlements have been known (In a large number of cases) to disappear and the DVLA will not add them back on whatever you say unless you can supply ‘original proof’ that the relevant test was passed.
A bit bamboozled here, why would you hand it in if not renewing it and sending in with it the proper paperwork. Unless its for a conviction, medical reason, etc. or have I missed something?
The photocopying idea is a valuable one!! Some of you may recall on another thread sometime ago that I mentioned that in 1990 when I moved to N. Ireland (with the army) and changed my GB licence to an NI one, my Cat A entitlment went missing, never to return.
Well, better than that is a bloke from my work (office worker). He is originally from NI but sent his licence to swansea after moving house in GB. He didn’t hear anything for a few months and got in touch with them - they had no record of it arriving, or indeed ever being issued!! He then realised that his was an NI licence that he should’ve sent to DVLNI in Coleraine!
He got in touch with Coleraine who don’t have any record of him on their system; Swansea now say they have a record of all his provisional entitlements from years ago but no ‘test passes’ whatsoever!!!
He has taken legal advice but the shocking thing about the whole situation is that there appears to be nothing that can be done!! John has been driving for over 15 years, has young kids that are always in his car and just isn’t the type of guy to do anything dodgy or daft. He is now left with no option that to do all his driving tests etc again.
During the ‘wranglings’ it was established that even if he could get hold of his old driving instructor who would be able to vouch for him, it wouldn’t be enough ‘proof’!!! By the sound of it, even a photocopy might not be enough in this situation but it would be better than what he’s got at the moment - NOTHING!!
Be carefull whenever you have to send your licence off!
A truck driving friend of mine sent his old paper licence to DVLA to renew it for a photo licence. When he got it back he was only listed as having a C licence even though he was C+E.
He ended up contacting TNT, who he had worked for about 10 years prior as none of his other employers had kept the photocopies of his original licence, and luckily they had. He did manage to get his C+E reinstated, but if it hadnt have been for the good fortune of TNT keeping records he was looking at the prospect of having to take a retest. He also lost about 4 days pay as he is employed as a C+E trunk driver, but wasnt allowed to drive.
I still have my paper licence, but have to renew next year as Ive got my 45 year medical. You can be sure I’ll be photocopying it before I send it off.
jammymutt:
I changed mine recently i also changed address and i had absolutely no problems at all, and all my entitlements are on the new photocard licence.
im doing both very soon
i think i will wait for the new job before i send it off just in case and i will copy it anyway
then again, my licence is copied at least once a fornight by clients which is why its in 3 pieces. shouldnt be hard to track down a copy
