Renew Driving License at 70 query

[dangie]

Has anyone here recently renewed their driving license on reaching 70 years old?

My wife is 70 next month. She applied online to renew her licence. They said it was quicker and simpler.

She filled the form with all asked for details. On completing the form she received and email saying:

Dear Mrs ******

Thank you for submitting your driving licence application online.

In order for DVLA to complete your application, it requires you to do one more thing.

You must send some information to DVLA.

You will receive an application completion form in the post - please allow 1 week for delivery. Please complete this form and return it to DVLA so that your driving licence application can be submitted for validation checks.
I was 70 four years ago and I'm sure I applied online and did not have to fill in any other forms. Has anyone here applied online and still had to fill and send off a paper copy form? The information they are asking for is exactly the same as on the online form. Seems a bit pointless applying online if you still need to complete a paper form.

 

[jfollows]

C1 entitlement?
I have this, I’m only 63 but apparently this has to be renewed by post only.

Although, apparently, the norm is that this category is just removed at renewal over 70.

 

[davews]

Is this a renewal of a photo driving licence or is an old style paper one involved? If the latter they will need a photo. There is an issue that for many that they cannot use the photo on the passport because some passports don't have a digital signature.

When I first moved to a photo licence from a paper one at 70 I had exactly the same words, a letter with details asking me to send a photo arrived in a few days. The subsequent two renewals (yes, I am now 76) I filled in the online forms, five minutes, and the new driving licence appeared just a few days later.

By the way, I no longer have a car and am not currently driving, but I worked out it was far easier just to renew my licence than cancel it and try and get a new one at a later time.

 

[Oldgaloot]

I turned 70 in 2021 so right in the pandemic. Because of a medical issue there was a bit of a faff in getting the new licence and a fair bit of delay, but for anyone not in that boat I don't see a problem. As for a photo, DVLA "scraped" the pic from my passport and used that. When I had to renew again last year the whole thing was straightforward.

 

[dangie]

Is this a renewal of a photo driving licence or is an old style paper one involved? If the latter they will need a photo. There is an issue that for many that they cannot use the photo on the passport because some passports don't have a digital signature.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Yes it is a renewal of an old paper licence. Although we asked for the photo to be taken off the passport, I’m guessing that was not possible.

Without reading through the initial application letter which came, I don’t think it was made clear that a postal application would need to be made. Just means we’ve now got to take and print off a photograph.

 

[davews]

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...0-and-weeks-delay-for-driving-licence-renewal explains it quite well.

The technical glitch has been caused by the removal of digital signatures from passports in 2016. The change, introduced by the Passport Office (HMPO), was designed to speed up online passport applications by dispensing with signed supplementary forms and printed photos. Passports are now signed by the owner on receipt.

 

[swt_passenger]

I’ve just had an ‘over 70 renewal’ in late April, for my birthday in early July. I used the online process, answered no to the “retain LGV entitlement” question, and the new licence arrived in about 3 working days, no paperwork, no signature, no photo involved. In the process they asked for my previous plastic licence back immediately, but I didn’t send it until the new one had arrived.

I suppose the 10 yearly photo update cycle is often separate to many people’s licence renewal date, dependent on when they changed to photocard, it was all a bit random at the time?

 

[nwales58]

New photo doesn’t have to be printed if that’s inconvenient. The booth at Tescos can give you a reference instead.

C1 entitlement?
I have this, I’m only 63 but apparently this has to be renewed by post only.

Although, apparently, the norm is that this category is just removed at renewal over 70.

To keep your C1 not only do you have to start with the paper forms you also need the medical, which costs.

Done it but only worth it if you still need to drive vans over 3.5t past 70.

 

[davews]

New photo doesn’t have to be printed if that’s inconvenient. The booth at Tescos can give you a reference instead.

For passports yes. But when I had the issue with my driving licence and a subsequent letter it gave no option to enter the reference online, I had to send it physically.