Historically in the UK when you passed your driving test you were issued with a driving licence that was valid until you were 70. You then had to re-apply for a licence every 5 years. With the introduction of the new style photo card driving licence in July 1998 this has changed.

The UK Driving Licence now comes in two parts:

1. Plastic Driving Licence containing your photo which is valid from the date of issue (item 4a on the licence) for 10 years. The expiry date appears as item 4b.

2. A green and pink A4 sized, Counterpart Driving Licence, which is valid from the date of issue until the day before your 70th birthday. This lists the categories of vehicles the holder is entitled to drive and any Endorsements.

RENEWING A PHOTO DRIVING LICENCE

With a renewal application

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will send the driver a renewal application pack two months before the photo is due to expire. The driver will need to:

  • complete the enclosed form
  • include a new passport type photo that's been taken within the last month (the driver doesn't need the back of the photo signed)
  • return both parts of the driving licence (photocard and counterpart document)
  • enclose a cheque or postal order for £20.00 (no fee is needed if the driver has a medical short period licence or is aged 70 or over)
  • send the completed application and fee to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1DH
  • If the driver has changed his/her name, he'll also need to provide identity documents as proof.

Without a renewal application

If, for any reason, the driver doesn't receive the renewal application forms then he can use the D1 form Application for a Driving Licence. This is available from the DVLA form ordering service, and Post Office ® branches.

When to expect your licence

The DVLA aims to deliver a new driving licence within three weeks of receiving the application. It'll take longer if they have to check health or personal details. Allow at least three weeks for a new driving licence to arrive before contacting DVLA.

Advice For Car Hire Customers

Make sure that you check the expiry date on the Photocard Licence and apply for it at least three weeks before you go on holiday or plan to hire a car. Most car hire companies will not hire out a car if the driver is unable to produce a valid driving licence.

Advice For Car Hire Companies

Make sure that you check the expiry date on the Card Licence as well as the Counterpart. Through experience of running a classic car hire company, we have found that many people do not think of changing their driving licence when they change address. In this case they will not receive the renewal notice from the DVLA so as well as the address being incorrect, the licence could well have expired.

Tony Merrygold of The Open Road - Classic Car Hire is an expert in classic car hire having been in business in the UK since 1997 running The Open Road. Tony runs courses telling people how to start up a car hire company, having trained over 100 people over the past three years.

Combining his 20 year background in sales and marketing with his knowledge of the classic car hire industry, in early 2008 Tony launched a new web portal Classic Car Hire World - listing classic and sports car hire companies around the world. Within three months of its launch this site had acheived a Google PageRank of 4/10 and was showing on the first page of google.com when users searched for 'classic car hire'.