Blog Post Mountaineer reaches the top of mountain.

Mountaineer reaches the top of mountain.
May

7

2013

Mountaineer reaches the top of mountain.

You must renew a photocard licence every 10 years – you’ll receive a reminder before your current licence ends.

What you need

To renew online, you need:
  • a valid UK passport
  • to be a resident of Great Britain – there’s a different service in Northern Ireland
  • to pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron, Maestro or Delta debit or credit card (there’s no fee if you’re over 70 or have a medical short period licence)
  • addresses of where you’ve lived over the last 3 years
  • your current driving licence (if you don’t have your licence you must say why in your application)
  • your National Insurance number (if you know it)
  • to not be disqualified from driving

How long it takes

Your driving licence should arrive within a week if you apply online. You must send your old photocard licence to DVLA when you get your new licence. You’ll be told the address to use when you finish the application. Your new licence will be valid from the date your application is approved, not from the expiry date of your current licence. Personal data DVLA will send you a confirmation email once you’ve applied. You might be asked to take part in research by email, but you can opt out.

After your test, your examiner will give you your pass certificate.

You can use this as evidence that you have passed until you get your photocard driving licence, but you actually don’t even need to carry it with you.

Your driving licence

If you keep your provisional licence because you need to send it off yourself (to change your address or photo, for example), you MUST  exchange within 2 years. If you don’t, you’ll have to TAKE YOUR TEST AGAIN. The idea is making me cringe.

Your examiner will take your provisional driving licence photocard to send to the DVSA, where it will be updated for your new full driving licence. You’ll get your updated full licence photocard through the post within 3 weeks, but you don’t need to wait for it to arrive before you drive.
 

If you took your test in your own car, your learner insurance may cover your accompanying driver (for example, your driving instructor or parent) for the ride home – but it’s best to check with your insurer.

 

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