Driving licence renewal not easy

[myglaren]

Having said that I don't remember what hoops I had to go through for my 70th birthday renewal. I most certainly haven't put an app on my phone so I suppose I must have gone down the Post Office route but I really can't remember.

Mine was dead easy, done online and new one received after a few days. Same with the one at 73.

[PaulC5]

Searching seems to suggest the gov one website roll out was during 2024 and in time it is intended to include all government services by the end of 2027.

We went to another post office today which also does driving licence renewals and got our identities checked against our driving licences. It was done using a tablet by taking a picture of the QR code on the letter for the post office, then taking pictures of the driving licences and then photos of us without glasses or smiling. We now have to wait for emails to say our identities our proved and can then progress the licence renewal. The post office said they can do the renewal but it costs more and takes 2 to 3 weeks. Once they are renewed it will need to be done again in a few months as we reach 70 unless some common sense happens during the renewal process.

On the way back we went to a Sainsburys for some things and their diesel was the lowest price in Lincoln, only thing they did not have any.

[myglaren]

It seems to be an extension of the "Government Gateway".
I used that when it was in it's infancy and it worked OK until my password stopped working and they were never able to fix it.

I thought the tax was due in a couple of weeks and asked my son to check and renew today if there was an increase. Looks like it is remaining at £20 but isn't actually due for three months as I 'sold' my car to him when the insurance went up to £7,600

[PaulC5]

We have been able to complete the licence renewals today. Mrs P used her passport photo to complete it and in a few minutes had her renewal confirmed so the licence will be here in a few days. I made the mistake of submitting a new photo as my passport is 8 years old but it looks as if somebody has to check it as I have not yet got a confirmation. I wonder what they do with the photo taken by the post office, surely that could have been used but was not an option ?

Once everyone has their photo on one gov data base it could easily be used for facial recognition by the police so might help against crime.

[myglaren]

I used the same photo for donkeys, just passed back and forth between driving licence and passport. Did get a new one for the last licence though.

[PaulC5]

The new licences arrived after 1 week so quite quick. They have asked for the old ones to be cut up and sent back to them but have not included an envelope or stamp - does anyone bother sending them back. A relative did his renewal at a post office and they took his old one, cut it up and threw it in the bin.

[myglaren]

I had to return mine, don't recall cutting it up but probably did if they asked for that.

[mickthemaverick]

I would think you could cut it up, take a picture of it and email that and bin the bits!!

[myglaren]

Who knows with the DVLA.