This is may be of interest to people.
I've had a paper license for 31 years when I moved into my current house. Pre photo card etc.
Then this was "GB Driving Licence - European Communities Model". Now this was then acceptable for driving in the EEC countries.
Time moves on and two things have change:
1) My Post Code. Every other government, council, NHS, utility provider automatically made the relevant changes however the DVLA did not issue updated paper licenses
2) The EEC became the EU and new rules/photocard seem to have happened.
So not advised to me I've been driving in the EU for many years with a now supposedly invalid license as it is not a photocard and not backed by an IDP.
So last year (before Covid) we went to the PO to get a couple of IDPs. They rejected the photos as not passport compliant despite them being the same as on our passports which we did not have with us. Suspect they were fuelling the local photo booth! No further action taken as EU trips were now off.
So this year I looked into getting an updated license (photo) with the correct post code.
Tried the online system to get a free change due to address change but this all failed miserably at server hurdles. Old paper licence info not recognised and then the system did not recognise the post code change so threw out No.X The Old Lane ......... as being the same as to what they had on record.
So I called the DVLA (long wait) and was told:
1) They had the correct post code on their system
2) that I needed to fill in a D1 form, add photo, take to Post Office for validation (with passport/proof of address etc) and I would be issued with a new photo card license free of charge.
I mentioned to the nice lady that it looked like I could do the paper to photocard change online but it would cost £20. She said that the D1 route was free and I should not be paying to get a driving license with the correct post code on it. However I did say that I understand that but the whole process is, if nothing else, exposing me to unnecessary (based on my age) Covid exposure risks etc.
So where am I at now.
Well the other day I did an online "paper to photocard" exchange. Yes I had to pay £20 but the system recognised me (well did not reject me like going the address change route), was happy that it could identify me (NI number) and pick up my passport photo and signature.
For me the £20 was not ideal but I could do the whole process from my own home risk free, no photo to be provided and no certified paper document identity stuff either.
I would add that the EU IDP route (either 1 or two years) will cost you money anyway and require payed renewal, photo, etc. etc. so the £20 I've paid is good value BUT could have been avoided if the DVLA colud online process old paper licenses.
Lastly. My current paper license is Groups A and E. This includes Mopeds and up to 7.5 ton vehicles. I will be reviewing very carefully my old license permitted driving classes against what I guess will be new system class entitlements to ensure my "grandfather" rights and entitlements are carried forward correctly.
Whenever you do a DVLA (or other) change/update/etc then ALWAYS be sure to photocopy all your original documents and keep them safe. These will be the only real proof that you had certain entitlements as your records are moved from "olde" systems/standards to the new/current ones. Without this photocopy proof then things could get "tricky".
Thankfully I also still have my original Red Cloth County Driving license from the 70s and my Belgian driving license from the same era when I used to live in Belgium.
I've had a paper license for 31 years when I moved into my current house. Pre photo card etc.
Then this was "GB Driving Licence - European Communities Model". Now this was then acceptable for driving in the EEC countries.
Time moves on and two things have change:
1) My Post Code. Every other government, council, NHS, utility provider automatically made the relevant changes however the DVLA did not issue updated paper licenses
2) The EEC became the EU and new rules/photocard seem to have happened.
So not advised to me I've been driving in the EU for many years with a now supposedly invalid license as it is not a photocard and not backed by an IDP.
So last year (before Covid) we went to the PO to get a couple of IDPs. They rejected the photos as not passport compliant despite them being the same as on our passports which we did not have with us. Suspect they were fuelling the local photo booth! No further action taken as EU trips were now off.
So this year I looked into getting an updated license (photo) with the correct post code.
Tried the online system to get a free change due to address change but this all failed miserably at server hurdles. Old paper licence info not recognised and then the system did not recognise the post code change so threw out No.X The Old Lane ......... as being the same as to what they had on record.
So I called the DVLA (long wait) and was told:
1) They had the correct post code on their system
2) that I needed to fill in a D1 form, add photo, take to Post Office for validation (with passport/proof of address etc) and I would be issued with a new photo card license free of charge.
I mentioned to the nice lady that it looked like I could do the paper to photocard change online but it would cost £20. She said that the D1 route was free and I should not be paying to get a driving license with the correct post code on it. However I did say that I understand that but the whole process is, if nothing else, exposing me to unnecessary (based on my age) Covid exposure risks etc.
So where am I at now.
Well the other day I did an online "paper to photocard" exchange. Yes I had to pay £20 but the system recognised me (well did not reject me like going the address change route), was happy that it could identify me (NI number) and pick up my passport photo and signature.
For me the £20 was not ideal but I could do the whole process from my own home risk free, no photo to be provided and no certified paper document identity stuff either.
I would add that the EU IDP route (either 1 or two years) will cost you money anyway and require payed renewal, photo, etc. etc. so the £20 I've paid is good value BUT could have been avoided if the DVLA colud online process old paper licenses.
Lastly. My current paper license is Groups A and E. This includes Mopeds and up to 7.5 ton vehicles. I will be reviewing very carefully my old license permitted driving classes against what I guess will be new system class entitlements to ensure my "grandfather" rights and entitlements are carried forward correctly.
Whenever you do a DVLA (or other) change/update/etc then ALWAYS be sure to photocopy all your original documents and keep them safe. These will be the only real proof that you had certain entitlements as your records are moved from "olde" systems/standards to the new/current ones. Without this photocopy proof then things could get "tricky".
Thankfully I also still have my original Red Cloth County Driving license from the 70s and my Belgian driving license from the same era when I used to live in Belgium.
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