A massive 300,000 photo card licences are due to expire in the next 12 months, yet a significant proportion of drivers are unaware that the new photo-style licences require updating every 10 years.

Unlike the superseded paper licence, which was valid for life, the new identity card versions feature a valid until date, at which time motorists must shell out an extra £17.50 for a new card. Its thought that a lot of drivers are not aware of this requirement.

This summer marked the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the new photo card licence and of the cards due for update a massive 28% are still outstanding, according to the DVLA. These drivers could face a £1,000 fine if asked to surrender the licence.
Though the expiry date is printed on the front of the photo cards, it can only be identified as such when the owner turns the card over and reads the small print.
Making matters more confusing is the presence on the back of the cards of a date until which time the motorists is registered to hold the licence - their 70th birthday.
According to the DVLA, reminders will now be sent to drivers with photo cards due to expire, while the Association of British Insurers has confirmed that insurance cover is unaffected by an expired photo card.

Bastards, why the hell would you need to renew your licence every 10years.

At least I keep loosing mine so even tho Ive been driving for 5years I have a fresh 10year licence.

oh yeah, soz

http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/12092008/36/drivers-face-fines-expired-licences-0.html

Er cause you look like you were 10 years ago right?

I certainly wont look like my 17yr old face at 27 when it comes to my renewal.

Youd be surprised I reckon. People can have a haircut and put on some glasses and look totally different, but your essential features never really change do they. Its a load of crap really.

yes its called a disguise

Quote from: M3ta7h3ad

Er cause you look like you were 10 years ago right?

I certainly wont look like my 17yr old face at 27 when it comes to my renewal.

Youd be surprised I reckon. People can have a haircut and put on some glasses and look totally different, but your essential features never really change do they. Its a load of crap really.

I dont have acne anymore, im fatter, I rarely wear glasses and my hair varies between almost skinhead to lawrence llewellyn bowen. You change quite a bit over 10 years to be honest. Its the same reason they renew the passports.

I agree, you can change a lot in 10 years so a new photo and thus card I can totally understand and they need to cover the costs of these but people pay enough tax to drive on the road as it is so that should be covering the costs of these cards.

I like my 10 year old photo  I had noticed my card expired in January.

TBH cant wait to change mine, I look like the opening credits to Dr Who!

Makes sense to me TBH, its supposed to be photo ID and while me at 27 may look quite a lot like me at 17, me at 37 probably wont. Youve got to change them BEFORE they cease to look like the person they are supposed to be, or they are no use at all.

My Firearms Certificate has to be updated every 5 years, a passport is every 10 and Im sure there are plenty of other things which are broadly similar. The DVLA should make it more clear that the licence has to be updated though, I only figured that out recently.


Interestingly now that I look at it, my licence has to be updated 10 years after I turned 17, not 10 years after it was issued.