[Snowball]

Being over 70, my driving licence is due for its 3-year renewal at the beginning of July. As we will be out of the UK for the previous 2 months, i phoned them to explain that i needed to send in my renewal earlier than normal. The guy said to send it in immediately (this was at the beginning of Feb.) So I got a D1 form, filled it in, and sent everything off on Feb 7, with a covering letter.
Couple of weeks or so later, it all came back; I had missed out crossing a box. Corrected it and sent it again.
Yesterday, it came back again. "We cannot accept applications made more than three months before the requested start date". Now, why could they not have said that at the time of the first return???

So I'll just wait until within the three months. But I have a quandary. When I told the guy I spoke to on the phone, that note 4b on my photo licence indicated a new photo due, he said this isn't necessary as the existing details on file "last for life". True or false?
Do I also enclose a new photo to avoid risk of yet another 'rejection'?:confused:

[MrDanno]

I'm not 100% sure but, I thought that the photo was OK for 10 years. My licence expires 10 years after I applied for it but, My entitlements to drive different categories run out before and after the expiry date of the licence.

[Snowball]

Unfortunately, MrDanno, after completing the D1 form I threw away the attached page of notes. Somewhere on this page, I believe there was some reference to note 4b on the photo licence, which is a date, and that this indicated a requirement to provide a new photograph. On monday I will get a new D1 form from the Post Office to check this, and probably give them another call. The returned D1 form now has red notes written in various places, and has been stamped '09 feb 2011' by the DVLA, so perhaps it will be best to start over from scratch. Otherwise, heaven knows what tangle they will get into!
Haven't had any problems in the past, but I am beginning to understand the frustration that some drivers have complained about.

[MrDanno]

I filled in these forms for my parents about a year ago but, I don't remember much about it now apart from they could do some checks against your digital passport number. and it saved sending documents to them.

I wished I'd not bothered applying for a photocard licence as I have to renew it again in 3 years because my LGV entitlement needs renewing.

[MrDanno]

Originally Posted by Snowball

When I told the guy I spoke to on the phone, that note 4b on my photo licence indicated a new photo due, he said this isn't necessary as the existing details on file "last for life". True or false?
Do I also enclose a new photo to avoid risk of yet another 'rejection'?:confused:

As far as I understand it, The expiry date 4b means that you have to supply a new photo.

[smudger]

Well I recently had to fork out £20 and send in a new photo on myself to have my license renewed.

I wouldn't have had to do that if I had kept my old Green Paper license, but my last employers insisted I get the new plastic card type, which has to be renewed every 10 years:(

(one good thing about it was, they removed the 3points I had on the "paper part" that I got way back in 98, and it didn't cost me anything;))

[ficklejade]

Hey, guys, I'm confused. I have a paper licence but was told that I had to have a photo licence as well. The latter is up for renewal this year. (Ooops! just realized that!!) So,if I've got to get new photos, I'd better get this done in a booth on a mainland trip!

[Snowball]

Hope you find a better booth than I did FJ, at a local Post Office. £3.50, and not aceptable!!! Finally did my own at home, courtesy of digital camera, computer and printer. Did our passport photos, too.
Cost? about 60p.:cool:

[bantio8372]

@Snowball The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency can only process driving licence renewals within three months of the expiry date, so that’s why your application was returned. Even though you were advised on the phone to send it earlier, the system generally won’t accept applications submitted too far in advance. In this case, the best option is to wait until you’re within the three-month window before your licence expires and then submit the renewal using the D1 Form again.
Regarding the photo, the information you were given about it “lasting for life” isn’t completely correct. Photocard driving licences usually require the photo to be updated every 10 years, even though the driving entitlement itself may last longer. If section 4b on your photocard shows a photo renewal date, then the DVLA expects a new photograph when you renew. To avoid another rejection or delay, it’s generally safest to include a new passport-style photo with your renewal application unless you’re renewing online and they can reuse a digital photo from your passport record.