DVLA - how long?

[Jumbuck]

2 weeks ago I sent in the application form to exchange my paper licence for a photocard licence. No money has yet gone from my bank account which surely means that they haven't finished processing the application.

Does anyone have experience of how long this will take to get sorted because, with the inevitable national postal strike liable to start in just over a couple of weeks time, I'm wondering whether I'll receive the licence before it gets held up in the post indefinitely?

[graham4545]

Why don't you phone them, I have always found them quite helpfull

[albaqwerty]

if my memory is right (and I doubt it) it took DVLA about 6 weeks to send my OH his photo licence.
He didn't have to pay (don't know why...think it was as a result of change of address)

[Jumbuck]

garaham4545 - I was going to leave phoning them for at least another week because it's still early doors for this sort of application to get done. I'm just interested to know if there's a typical timescale to expect.

albaqwerty - yes there's no payment for change of address but if a new photo is involved then it's £20. 6 weeks eh? Oh dear, doesn't sound like my chances are too good.

[tonyav]

Change of address earlier this year, new photo licence took about 4 weeks. No payment involved.

[Jumbuck]

Thanks tonyav - so I might just get it before the deadline.

As for the £20, this page http://bit.ly/wWLTh definitely says that's how much it costs when exchanging licences, but if it's a renewal then there are a couple of exceptions (medical short period licence or aged 70+)

[Jumbuck]

Thanks for all the replies, it looks like it might just come back in time.

[Jumbuck]

Thought I'd post an update (as though anyone is the least bit interested)...

Today (just 2 weeks + 2 days after I sent them) I received my identification documents in the post, together with the cheque that I sent and the licence should appear within the next 10 days. Hurrah.

So it seems I was wrong about the money - the earlier link and also the application form itself seemed quite explicit that £20 would be the cost. Maybe I'm a slightly special case in that I sent the licence off for a change of address 9 years ago, and only did that because it was a useful form of id (haven't driven since the 1980s). When they sent back an application form requiring photo and proof of id because of the change of format, I just couldn't be bothered and so the licence has been languishing at the DVLA alll those years; having the licence back in my possession could be advantageous in my present circumstances which is why I decided to apply for it again.

[Jumbuck]

Just to complete this thread - my licence arrived today...