over 70 licence

Ryde555

I could not renew my over 70s licence although this was my first renewal, it would not accept the bypass of passport no, as I don't have one and stated my licence was invalid and would need to complete form D1, I completed the form as requested, returned to DVLA with my old licence and birth certificate / proof of pension etc. It has now been returned back to me requesting I send in new photo and £17 fee to be paid by cheque which as I don't possess a cheque book will have to wait 7 days for it to be sent out, as my bank branch has closed and the nearest branch is 12 miles away.
So far this has cost me £29 with photos / fee and 2 lots of signed for postage, can someone explain why I am having to pay in the first place
as I was advised this was free for over 70s and why I had to include another photo with it when my 1st over 70s licence with phot  is not quite 3yrs old, so now my current licence will be invalid in 5 days time and I am not supposed to drive, I luckily have all my faculties but this could be very daunting for someone else.
Anyone have any idea why this is happening

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community!

I'm sorry to hear you've been having trouble renewing your licence @Ryde555. 

I just had a look on the gov.uk website and it looks like you only need to provide a passport number if you'd like to change the photograph on your licence at the same time as renewing. Did you want to change your photograph, or did they tell you that you had to? 

I'm not sure why you're having to pay, as it does say on the gov.uk website that it's free of charge for over-70s. Someone else will hopefully be able to advise you on this. 

The website also says that you can continue driving whilst the DVLA has your licence as long as:

• you have the support of your doctor to continue driving
• you had a valid licence
• you only drive under the conditions of the previous licence
• your application is less than a year old
• your last licence wasn’t revoked or refused for medical reasons
• you’re not currently disqualified
• you weren’t disqualified as a high risk offender on or after 1 June 2013
  

Or is the problem now that it won't be renewed on time?

For reference, this is the web page I was reading. 

Ryde555

The system owuld not let me go the passport no just came up can't verify identity without passport ID
and driving licence invalid would need to fill in form D1, when I sent in the form I ticked the renew licence
at 70 and over box which did not require a photo and enclose my old licence with documentation as requested,
they sent it back with letter asking for new photo and fee of £17.

Tori_Scope

How strange @Ryde555. Have you given them a call to explain the situation? I'll try and do some more research now to see if I can find out what might be going on.

I've also moved your post into the Motability, Blue Badge, and Disabled Motoring category on the community and tagged it as unanswered so that our other members will be able to find it more easily.

Ryde555

I believe they are currently only taking certain calls, and direct you to online services

Tori_Scope

Ah right I see @ryde555. I just saw on the Age UK website that the DVLA are only taking calls from key workers.

I'm really not sure what's going on I'm afraid. The only other questions I have that could lead to an answer are:

• Did you have a photocard or a paper driving licence previously? 
• Did you try to renew within 2 months of the expiry date?

Ryde555

Yes had a photocard and have tried several times online within the last 2 months but always comes up the same
so can't pass passport step which clearly says if you don't want to give passport no or don't have a passport click
next

Tori_Scope

I'm stumped @Ryde555 . I hope someone else will be able to help out!

poppy123456

HI,

Where did the £17 charge come from for the new photo? Normally It's £14 for a change of photo on your driving license. https://www.gov.uk/renew-photo-driving-licence

Although for ages 70 and over even changing the photo is free.

Tori_Scope

I haven't been able to add it up either @poppy123456

poppy123456

@Tori_Scope I don't understand the £17 fee because it doesn't point to anything.

leeCal

Was it all definitely being conducted through the genuine website?

sorry to ask that but it’s worth checking.

Ryde555

yes it was

Ryde555

The £17 fee was requested in the letter from the DVLA  when they returned my application form,
which I assume is beacause they are doing a new card with photo

Tori_Scope

Hmm it does say on that link @poppy123456 sent that:

If your driving licence or entitlement to drive is due to expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 it will be automatically extended for 7 months

So could that be the case, and they think that you're trying to replace, rather than renew, your driving licence? I could be totally wrong.

poppy123456

Ryde555 said:

The £17 fee was requested in the letter from the DVLA  when they returned my application form,
which I assume is beacause they are doing a new card with photo

Ok, i just looked the the Gov,.uk site for driving licence. Over 70's is free but for the photo it's £14 if renewing online and £17 if it's by post.

I can only assume that because they've asked for a new photo they are charging you for this.

Full details here.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees

Ryde555

As far as I'm aware the over 70s were not incl in the extension they still had to renew as normal,
because some comments online considered it unfair.

Tori_Scope

Ah right @Ryde555. In that case I think @poppy123456 must be right. 

Ryde555

I would not have had this fiasco and paying out for new photo and licence fee if I could have done
it online, I did not ask to change my photo and ticked the renew licence, box not the renew licence
with new photo. But they sent it back asking for new photo and £17, I am 72 and my over 70s first
licence was only done in 2017 with photo

poppy123456

Ryde555 said:

As far as I'm aware the over 70s were not incl in the extension they still had to renew as normal,
because some comments online considered it unfair.

That's not correct. Here on the gov.uk website it clearly states they will be extended for 7 months.

Even under normal circumstances you can continue to drive while you wait for your new licence, providing you meet specif conditions.

See link. https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence-at-70

poppy123456

You need a valid passpot to be able to renew it online.

Ryde555

If you read more information on the website you quoted, the extension is for 
people who are going to apply for there first over 70s licence, it clearly states
if you are over 70 you must renew every 3 years

Ryde555

I was not concerned about the driving part luckily, I have someone here to do that, and I have
taken copies of my old licence and receipt of proof of posting so would continue to drive but
why am I being asked for another photo and fee I thought it would be straightforward by post
especially as I incl all the documents they asked for but it was'nt

Ryde555

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/coronavirus/2020-06/dvla-grants-seven-month-driving-licence-extension/
For info : The seven-month extension does not apply to drivers who are renewing their entitlement to drive - this means the over-70s are excluded from the seven-month extension.

poppy123456

Ryde555 said:

If you read more information on the website you quoted, the extension is for 
people who are going to apply for there first over 70s licence, it clearly states
if you are over 70 you must renew every 3 years

Sorry but i'm not seeing what you are seeing.

The 7 month extension includes those that are 70 and over, regardless of what "honest John" states. I know you must renew every 3 years when you're 70 and over.

Ryde555

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-8384905/DVLA-grants-seven-month-extension-driving-licence-applications.html
This website states the extension only applies to photocard renewals after 10 years, or is free if your licence is to be renewed if your over 70 when it expires

poppy123456

That's very missleading information in that link you have there. it makes no sense not to include those over 70 who renew their lience every 3 years because the reason it's extended in the first place is because of Covid and no new licence's are being sent.

Ryde555

I agree and that is why some over 70s are not happy although can still apply by post
but then may have same problems as me, I am going to write to the DVLA customer
services, as I have tried online over a 2 month period without success, then sent in
paper work as advised only to have everything returned for a new photo and fee with
no explanation doesn't make sense

Ryde555

I agree and that is why some over 70s are not happy although can still apply by post
but then may have same problems as me, I am going to write to the DVLA customer
services, as I have tried online over a 2 month period without success, then sent in
paper work as advised only to have everything returned for a new photo and fee with
no explanation doesn't make sense

Tori_Scope

I think writing to them is probably a good idea @Ryde555, this is all very confusing!

woodbine

I have my doubts about older people driving (its just an opinion don't shoot me) we have a neighbour who is 84 he can hardly walk but drives a 3 litre jag, its a lethal weapon tbh, on the other side of the coin I also think no one under 21 should be allowed to drive, doing both these things would take a few million vehicles off the road and help cut down on accidents and pollution.