Important changes to your UK driving licence
To help you avoid nasty fines and ensure you are complying with all the regulations, we have provided an outline of the driving licence changes below.
Driving test changes from 4 December 2017
Driving test changes from 4 December 2017
What’s changing?
From 8 June 2015 the paper counterpart that used to accompany driving licences are no longer valid and are no longer issued by the DVLA. If you have one, you may now destroy it but must keep your photocard driving licence.
If you have a paper driving licence
Paper driving licences which were issued before 1998 are still valid and you should not destroy it. However, when you update your name or address – or renew your licence – you will receive a photocard licence.
Providing all of the details on your photocard are up to date, there is nothing else you need to do.
What happens if you don’t have a photocard licence?
If you passed your driving licence before the photocard was introduced in 1998, then you may only have the old-style paper licence. If this is the case, you must not destroy the paper licence.
Your green paper licence will remain completely legal and providing that your details are correct, there is no reason for you to apply for a photocard version of your driving licence. If, however, you do decide that you want to upgrade your driving licence to a photocard, it will cost £20.00, unless you are changing your address, name or adding a driving entitlement, in which case it will be completely free to upgrade.
Your driving licence info can be found on the back of your photocard.
Your driving licence info can be found online
If you have studied the paper counterpart of your driving licence before, you will know that it holds all of your driving information, such as how many penalty points you have and when they expire, as well as information on the types of vehicles you are permitted to drive.
If you have a photocard then you will be able to find your licence information on the reverse side. Otherwise you can view your driving record online using the DVLA’s “view driving record” service. From here you will be able to see all of the data that was contained on your paper counterpart e.g. any penalty points you may have and the expiry date.
In order to get this information you will need to visit https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence. From there you will need to enter your driving licence number (which can be found on your photocard), your National Insurance number and the postcode on your driving licence.
The other option is to have the DVLA send your information to you through the post. You can either send in a request form (which can be found on the DVLA website) or write a letter including your full name and address, your driver licence number and a cheque or postal order for £5.00 payable to ‘DVLA Swansea.’
Written requests can be sent to the address given below:
Driver Licence Validation Service
DVRE 5
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AJ
Who has access to your driving licence information?
The new changes to the driving licence mean that it will not just be you that has access to your information, but interested parties such as employers and car hire firms. Usually you would have to provide them with your paper counterpart to prove that you haven’t got any penalty points and that your driving licence is in date, however now they can simply look online.
The online service developed by the DVLA will allow third parties to access real-time data regarding your driving record. However please note that only those with a genuine reason to see it will be able to request it and they will have to obtain permission from you, the licence holder, first.
The DVLA will remind you when your licence is about to expire or your photo needs updating by writing to you.
Making sure your details are up to date
In the past drivers would be able to make changes to their personal details – such as their address, by sending in their paper counterpart. Of course, with the DVLA no longer using the paper part of the driving licence, this will no longer be the case.
To ensure your personal details are kept up to date and avoid that nasty £1000 fine, you will need to use the DVLA’s online service to update your driving licence details.
It’s all very straightforward
The new changes are all relatively straightforward so there is no need to panic. Unless you need to change your driving licence details, all you need to do is destroy the paper counterpart of your licence (unless you have not been issued a photocard) and ensure all of your details are up to date by using the online service.
We think that the majority of motorists will actually welcome to the new changes implemented by the DVLA, as it cuts down on the amount of documents they need to carry when travelling both in the UK and abroad.
A final few tips for updating your driving licence
Avoid unexpected fines from the DVLA by making sure all of your driving licence details are up to date. See our checklist below for guidance.
In the past drivers would be able to make changes to their personal details – such as their address, by sending in their paper counterpart. Of course, with the DVLA no longer using the paper part of the driving licence, this will no longer be the case.
To ensure your personal details are kept up to date and avoid that nasty £1000 fine, you will need to use the DVLA’s online service to update your driving licence details.
It’s all very straightforward
The new changes are all relatively straightforward so there is no need to panic. Unless you need to change your driving licence details, all you need to do is destroy the paper counterpart of your licence (unless you have not been issued a photocard) and ensure all of your details are up to date by using the online service.
We think that the majority of motorists will actually welcome to the new changes implemented by the DVLA, as it cuts down on the amount of documents they need to carry when travelling both in the UK and abroad.
A final few tips for updating your driving licence
Avoid unexpected fines from the DVLA by making sure all of your driving licence details are up to date. See our checklist below for guidance.
- Correct home address – Have you recently moved house? If so, you need to make sure that you have updated the address on your driving licence, even if the move is only temporary.
- Correct surname – If you have recently got married or divorced and legally changed your surname, you need to make sure it is updated on your driving licence.
- Medical changes – If you have any health issues that your GP has advised you to report to the DVLA, make sure you do so to avoid being fined.
- Out of date photo – Your photo needs to be updated every 10 years. If it isn’t you risk being fined.
- Licence expired – If your driving licence has expired it needs to be renewed and this will cost you £20.00 unless you are aged 70 or over in which case it will be free.
The DVLA are getting rid of the paper counterpart licence.