Renewing Driving Licence

[collareddove12]

I have received a form to renew my licence in September when I am 76. I have gone on line to do this entering my Government Gateway no and password, my photo and details come up but states that it is due for renewal in May 2019. My licence shows that it expires September 2018 which is correct. I have tried to renew it but it says I can't I can only change photo or address. I don't know who to contact I have looked for an email address on line and the form they sent to me. I renewed it ok 3 years ago without a problem. Help.

[bhg481]

Could it be that your photo will be (say) 10 years old in May 2019 and it needs to have enough "life" in it to see out your replacement licence? On top of that, you can only renew your licence within 90 days of it expiring. When is your birthday?

[collareddove12]

My birthday is in Sept and I renewed it ok 3 years ago in Sept. 2015.

[bhg481]

Today is 20th June. If your birthday is before September 18th you can't renew it yet because it is not 90 days away. (i might have got that a day out).

[ABerrant]

I would not renew your licence this early because you do not get the extra time credited i.e. renew in May 2018 - licence expiry May 2021.

If you wait 'til Sep the expiry date will be Sep 2021.

[bhg481]

ABerrant - yes you do for a 70+ licence. The licence expires the day before your birthday. My current licence, renewed on 24/4/18 expires on 20/07/21, the day before my 76th birthday.

[collareddove12]

My birthday is Sept 11, my licence expires Sept 10, which it states on form they sent me. My problem is when I log in it says it expires May 2019.

[ABerrant]

"ABerrant - yes you do for a 70+ licence."

OK, that is different to the full licence (or at least was different a few years back when I 'lost' a month after I renewed immediately upon receiving the DVLA notification to do so).

In any event there is still no rush to complete the renewal application so there is plenty of time to query this glitch with DVLA.

https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla/y/driving-licences-and-applications

[bhg481]

collareddove - it definitely sounds like it's knickers-in-a-knot time at DVLA - you'll have to contact them using ABerrant's link.

[collareddove12]

Thanks ABerrant I'll try that

[ladybirder]

Aberrant, surely the 70+ Licence is a "Full Licence" isn't it?

[ABerrant]

Bad nomenclature on my part.

The over-70s photocard licence offers full entitlement but for a curtailed period of validity. So perhaps not as "full" as the 10-year licence :-)

[bhg481]

And it's free - you do have to pay for a "normal" 10-year renewal, don't you?

[EDDIE51]

I think the 'Over 70' licence is only valid for 3 years at a time.

[dunnitall]

Eddie....yes it is

[EDDIE51]

OK, Still a year and a half before I get my 'over 70' licence. Had a UK license continuously since June 1971 . 47 years so far. I also hold driving licenses from Zambia and Saudi Arabia . Both those places do not recognise a UK licence for more than 6 months ,so I had to pass the driving test 3 times as I was a resident in both countries. Passed the UK test 1st time, but took two attempts at the Zambian and the Saudi test .