OK, con is perhaps a bad word, but it seems really expensive to get your photocard renewed.

Mine is due to expire at the end of October, so with my new address, I decided to do the legal thing and send it off for change of address. I assumed at the same time, I could get my photocard renewed as it was going to have to reprinted for the C.O.A anyway. I chucked in a couple of photos too, in case they needed it.

Today I've had the same package sent back to me, with a request for £20 for change of photo! :eek: :rotz: I don't see how hard it is to just change it whilst the address is renewed.....? Anyway, emailed them back asking if I can keep the original photo, and still have the photocard license extended by 10 years or whatever.... Considering a new paper license is only £7, £20 seems a bit OTT for a photocard replacement, especially as the DVLA has always done changes of address free....

Anyone else been in this boat?

We had to pay when we got married, just to change our names... :thumbdwn:

I believe you can only get a photocard license when you renew now. I might be wrong!!!

Quick question on photocard license, my expiry date on the card is ten years from

issue date, a bloke up the pub has had a letter through to renew his next month

but it is only 3 years from issue date:confused: Anyone know why please.

Mine is only 2 years from issue date as I got one when I last changed address

F.O.C of course, but then the expiry never changed. Just seems wrong that you need to pay to renew the photocard when the paper license goes up to when your 70 years old....

I've just paid £17.50 to renew mine. My wife will have to pay £20 because they've already put the price up!

Mine expires in a few months.

So how much will they rob off me? From what I hear a new photo is compulsory once photocard is 10 years old!

mine is due later this year, its the governments way of making more money.

Mine expires in a few months.

So how much will they rob off me? From what I hear a new photo is compulsory once photocard is 10 years old!

You're in the same position as me? Sure, I know it's £7 for a replacement paper license when you lose it, but I don't see why they should charge me £20 for the privilege of changing the photo on my license, when they usually do everything FOC when you go through the proper process of telling them your change of address.

The annoying thing now is I can't give them back my license to get this sorted until the middle of June as I need both parts of license for two trackdays on the 6th & 7th June. Was hoping to get back new ones by then.... but they sent all my original stuff back to me instead.

I'm thankful I'm in good contact with the people at my old address should something come through.

Quick question on photocard license, my expiry date on the card is ten years from

issue date, a bloke up the pub has had a letter through to renew his next month

but it is only 3 years from issue date:confused: Anyone know why please.

If you have a medical condition of some sort you have to renew every three years, may be thats why...........???

Quick question on photocard license, my expiry date on the card is ten years from

issue date, a bloke up the pub has had a letter through to renew his next month

but it is only 3 years from issue date:confused: Anyone know why please.

Is it their first photocard? If they had it replaced or changed address, the expiry date is still the original because it is based on the time of getting the first photocard due to the age of the photo

£20 for a pic! when SWMBO changed her name to her married name it cost her nothing, seems to be bit of a con to me, I had to pay £37 for a replacement licence when I lost mine last year all beacuse I lost the paperpart.

A photo license lasts for 10 years.

During that time you can get unlimited replacements.

It's free to have address changes and the like.

So you're paying a £2 per year charge for "database maintenance" and unlimited replacements.

Although I'm against many charges in the world I feel this is a fair charge.

A license is a privilage and not a right.

So if you don't want to pay your £2 a year then don't - you don't of course have a license.

£2 a year for the amount of freedom that a driving license gives you I think is very minimal.

I can have a driving license without a photocard though.

Just got this back

can confirm that change of address is free of charge provided you return your driving licence to the Centre.

However' date=' there is a fee of £20 required to change the photograph.

If you would like just the address changed please reply to the letter you have received explaining this.

Please note however that the photograph on your driving licence must be renewed every 10 years.

[/quote']

I guess I'm just going to have to pay it. I just assumed if a change of address is needed for the bottom of the photocard - a new one will be printed so how hard is it to change the photo too. [sigh!] Oh well.

I'm positive that the DVLA can't administer replacement licences at a measly cost of £20.00. It probably costs in the region of £100s given red tape.

Whether they can or can't cover their costs on the photo driving licence is irrelevant IMHO, they brought in the photo driving licence so why should I have to pay for a new picture every 10 years? I used to have a paper only driving licence but had to change it when I passed my motorbike test, my old driving licence lasted until I was 70 IIRC and didn't need to be changed.

mine is due later this year, its the governments way of making more money.

It most certainly is.

Jason, Just do the address renewal and forget the photo until the 10 years is up.

Make sure you are still entitled to drive when you do renew your license, after watching watch dog the last few weeks the DVLA are fairly carp at the database thing even if it is only £2 a year

I can understand having to renew every 10 years as there's a fairly good chance that your appearance will have changed. It is a formal, recognized form of ID after all. Photocards licenses were the norm when I passed and I'm in favour of them; saved having to take my Passport with me everywhere when I was younger and out drinking

Mine's due next year and I just put it down to 'one of those things'. After all, a passport expires after 10 years and costs £80!

Do see what you're saying about the fact they're changing your address anyway Jason, but in trying to maintain a system like this they're just going to follow the rules that have been set down for them, rather than making exceptions.

Steve

It most certainly is.

Jason, Just do the address renewal and forget the photo until the 10 years is up.

Someone's not read the thread

My photocard has an Oct 2009 expiry, so wanted to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, by going through the usually FOC change of address system... This is when I learned about the £20 charge - when it was all sent back to me.....

Someone's not read the thread

My photocard has an Oct 2009 expiry, so wanted to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, by going through the usually FOC change of address system... This is when I learned about the £20 charge - when it was all sent back to me.....

Oh! Must be having a grey moment.

At least we dont have to do retests etc like they do in the US. Every 3 years?

It most certainly is.

Jason, Just do the address renewal and forget the photo until the 10 years is up.

and for those moaning about the renewal look at the passport renewal of £72 for another 10 years.