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Exchanging
or
updating
your
driving
licence
The
Driver
and
Vehicle
Licensing
Agency
(DVLA)
no
longer
issue
paper
driving
licences
as
a
result
of
an
European
Union
directive
requiring
all
member
states
to
issue
driving
licences
in
a
card
format
and
to
contain
the
licence
holder's
image
and
signature.
There
are
numerous
benefits
that
the
photocard
driving
licences
offer:
- a
more
secure
format
which
reduces
the
opportunity
for
mis-representation
- ensuring
that
the
person
obtaining
a
provisional
licence,
taking
the
test
and
obtaining
a
full
driving
licence
are
one
and
the
same
- ensuring
that
the
person
obtaining
the
licence
is
old
enough
to
do
so
- to
minimise
the
chances
of
a
person
holding
more
than
one
licence,
either
by
accident
or
design
- increased
accuracy
of
the
DVLA
database,
which
will
in
turn
provide
better
information
to
the
police
and
courts
Changing
a
paper
driving
licence
to
a
photocard
driving
licence
If
you
want
to
change
your
paper
driving
licence
for
a
photocard
driving
licence
you
must
complete
the
application
form
D1
that
is
available
from
the
DVLA
form
ordering
service
and
Post
Office®
branches.
You
will
need
to
enclose
original
documentation
confirming
your
identity,
a
passport
style
colour
photograph
and
the
fee
of
£19.00.
Send
your
completed
application
and
payment
to
DVLA,
Swansea,
SA99
1BU
or
you
may
be
able
to
use
the
Post
Office®
checking
service.
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Changing
your photo on the photocard driving licence
Your
photocard driving licence is valid for a maximum of
10 years, to ensure that your photograph is kept up
to date with your true likeness. The DVLA will issue
you with a reminder when your photocard driving licence
is due for renewal.
However,
if during a 10 year period you want to change your
photograph you must complete the application form
D1 that is available from the DVLA form ordering service
and Post Office® branches. Your new photograph that
will be put on your licence must be a:
- colour
passport size, (size of image 45mm x 35mm);
( black and white photographs and those not
in the above format will not be accepted)
- a
true likeness, showing the full face (head and
shoulders), with no hat, helmet or sunglasses
- signed
on the back by the person who has completed
section seven of the D1 application
Who
can sign my photograph?
The
person who signs the reverse of your photograph must
also complete section seven of your D1 application
form. The following list of professions is a recommended
list by the DVLA:
- a
local business person or shopkeeper
- a
librarian
- a
professionally qualified person, for example,
a lawyer, teacher or engineer
- a
police officer
- a
bank or building society officer
- a
civil servant
- a
minister of religion
- a
magistrate
- a
local councillor or an MP (AM, MEP and MSP)
This
person must have known you personally for at least
two years and must not be a relative, (some professionals
may charge you for this). DVLA will carry out checks
on those who sign your photograph and D1 form. Send
your completed application, the fee of £19.00 and
your current photocard driving licence to DVLA, Swansea,
SA99 1BU. There is no need to send identification
with this application.
How long will my licence take to be returned?
DVLA
aim to deliver your driving licence to you within three weeks
of receiving your application. It might take longer if we
have to check on your health or personal details. Please allow
at least three weeks for your licence to arrive before contacting
DVLA.
Can
I drive before my licence is returned?
Once
the DVLA has received your valid application, the law allows
you to drive before the licence arrives as long as:
- you
have held a Great Britain or Northern Ireland licence
issued since 1 January 1976 or another exchangeable
licence
- you
are not disqualified from driving (there are different
rules for medium or large vehicles, minibus or bus drivers
- the traffic commissioner for your area will decide
whether to grant your entitlement to drive these vehicles)
- you
have not been, and would not be, refused a licence for
medical reasons
- you
keep to any special conditions which apply to the licence
Plastic
wallets
Please
note that DVLA no longer issues plastic wallets with photocard
driving licences. This decision was taken primarily to help
minimise the costs of issuing licences to the public. The
agency has also received numerous complaints from members
of the public about the size of the plastic wallet. Consequently
many drivers discard the wallet and use a different way of
protecting their licence. Old plastic wallets sent in to the
agency cannot be returned.
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