Thread: Requesting a new provisional after 12 years...

Hi there
I would be very grateful of some help as I am really worried about sending off my D1 form to replace a lost provisional licence. I applied for my first provisional 12 years ago and used it for a couple of years but never passed my test. I have decided to give driving lessons another go but have read that I could now be facing a £1000 fine for not changing my address. I was a teenager then and lived at home and since then have moved and got married. It never even occured to me that I should be telephoning the DVLA to report this as I hadnt used my provisional in ages before I moved address. I cant help but wonder if I am going to be opening a can of worms should I post my form off... but I want to learn to drive. Can someone help please??
Thanks

Co-incidentally I picked up a new pupil today who, like you, had started to learn to drive about 15 years ago as a teenager at home then gave up till now.

He only paid the £17.50 cost for a "lost licence" as far as I recall him mentioning and I know he doesn't live at the same address that will have been on his old provisional (coz he's married and lives in a recently built new house now).

If you wait till after tomorrow before sending anything off, I'll ring him up and clarify what he did/did not tell them on his new application form.

Thanks for your help... that would be great. Its not just my address though as I got married 4 years ago so my names changed too. But whatever info you can find out will be very helpful. Thanks.

Thanks DCA-KING. I have filled out the forms for a replacement licence although they can see from my marriage cert that I have to enclose is that I got married and changed my name in 2003.
I have finally managed to find an email for licence enquires and have taken your advice and emailed them this morning. I shall wait for their response.
Cheers

I spoke to my sudent and he said he filled in the D1 as a "lost" licence. As he had also moved house, he had to complete "old address / new address" section and only paid the £17.50 for a new photo licence.

I mentioned that you were a married female so also would have a change of name and he thought the form allowed for that too. At the very least you have nothing to loose by trying to pay the lower fee as I am sure they won't have grounds to pursue you for a change of address. After all, they'd have to prove you didn't live there up till recently and further that you were not contactable through that address (which is all they are officially concerned with)

Thanks Crem for your help... I think I will just chance it and hope for the best on the 'Lost' licence. Ive always been contactable on the old address anyway as its my parents address and they still live there. I did email DVLA today but aren't hopeful that I will get a speedy reply. I shall just keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again

i got married 10yrs ago and i thought i had changed my driving licence until last week when i wanted it for I.D. and it is still in maiden name i don't know what to do about it. Ive been driving all this time and never been asked to produce it for anything Wish i hadnt looked it out to use as I.D. Worried sick about it now

Remember before you send any thing off to DVLA PHOTOCOPY everything as they have a habit of losing documents and will deny ever having received it.

Regards

Pompeyfaith

Ok I think have sorted it now... I have spoken to 2 different people at DVLA and both said that I wont be fined even though I changed address over 10years ago and changed my name 5 years ago. They said that if I was using my old provisional licence and got stopped by the police, it would be the police that could fine me upto £1000 for not having the correct details.
If I was you 'hallowitch' I would change your name asap and you should be fine. Will definitely photocopy my D1 form 'pompeyfaith', thanks for the tip.

thanks for that sharkgirl will do it this weekend. do i get a form from post office or can i do it on-line also i still have paper licence do i need to change it to the photo one at the same time

Hi Hallowitch
You can definitely get the D1 form from the Post Office. The online application doesnt seem to have the facility to change your name only your address. I could be wrong but its probably easier to fill out the form and that way you can apply for the photo card licence at the same time. Which Im pretty sure you need to do.
All the best

Originally Posted by hallowitch

i still have paper licence do i need to change it to the photo one at the same time

Only photo card licences are issued now, so you have no choice but to renew for a photo licence. Remember as well, although the paper counterfoil part of this new licence lasts till you are 70 like your old paper licence, the photo card has to be renewed every 10 years at a cost of £17.50 (or cost as amended over time)

Originally Posted by crem

Only photo card licences are issued now, so you have no choice but to renew for a photo licence. Remember as well, although the paper counterfoil part of this new licence lasts till you are 70 like your old paper licence, the photo card has to be renewed every 10 years at a cost of £17.50 (or cost as amended over time)

Sorry but you are only half right.


The photocard does expire, but the green counterpart that went with that photocard will also become invalid as your new photocard (with brand new photo) will carry a different issue number (which is at the end of your drivers number on both the cpart and pcard) both of this numbers have to match (and be the highest) for it to be a valid licence.

What expires is the photo and not your entitlement to drive. If you have held a photocard licence for 5 years and do a change of address the expiry of the licence will be 5 years from the change of address.

The DVLA do not and never have issued just the photo or just the counterpart.

Unfortunately when you renew your photocard licence with a new photo you need to pay the fee which is (now) £20. The DVLA should send a letter out to the licence holder close to expiry. Informing the DVLA of change of address is free and to do so just follow the instructions on your counterpart.

Originally Posted by Imdaewen

What expires is the photo and not your entitlement to drive. If you have held a photocard licence for 5 years and do a change of address the expiry of the licence will be 5 years from the change of address.

That's what I was meaning. I didn't mean you only receive a new photo bit, just that it is the photo that has the 10 year expiry date. The paper bit only shows the expiry at age 70 like the "old" one did, but they do send you both new bits on exchange, obviously with no requirment to take any further tests or any thing.

Originally Posted by crem

That's what I was meaning. I didn't mean you only receive a new photo bit, just that it is the photo that has the 10 year expiry date. The paper bit only shows the expiry at age 70 like the "old" one did, but they do send you both new bits on exchange, obviously with no requirment to take any further tests or any thing.

A lot of people claim the DVla only send them one bit. Updating an old style licence into the new photocard and counterpart is easy. Unless you find it hard to use a photobooth or fill in a form.

The photocard also shows expiry at age 70, flip it over and look at the back. But when surrending to the police and courts the counterpart and photocards issues must match, as they will either refuse to take it or tell you to get a new one. Depending on their procedures. Also if the endorsement part of the licence is damaged, laminated of the issue numbers become unreadable you will also be told to get a new one.




Personally I think the photocard expiry and replacement fee is a con and stealth tax. Especially for the same as a lost document. Also the same for a woman to pay for a new passport upon marraige. Con.

Originally Posted by Imdaewen

A lot of people claim the DVla only send them one bit. Updating an old style licence into the new photocard and counterpart is easy. Unless you find it hard to use a photobooth or fill in a form.

Personally I think the photocard expiry and replacement fee is a con and stealth tax. Especially for the same as a lost document. Also the same for a woman to pay for a new passport upon marraige. Con.

But if you have the "old" style, even though it is "easy" to change it, I would avoid changing it like the plague. Why would I want a new type license that I have to pay a stealth tax on every 10 years?

Mine has been valid since I moved in 1994 and in perfectly good condition so it will do me for a good while longer I think with the DVLA getting nowt out of me yet.

Originally Posted by Imdaewen

What expires is the photo and not your entitlement to drive. If you have held a photocard licence for 5 years and do a change of address the expiry of the licence will be 5 years from the change of address.

Not my understanding at all.

If DVLA issue a new photocard licence (both parts) then the photo is always valid for 10 years from date of issue.

As an aside, it is also not always necessary to provide a photograph. If you have a full UK biometric passport then DVLA can, with your permission, obtain the photograph digitally from IPS.