I read some pretty dire warnings from the head honcho on our old home about getting one of these. I still have my paper licence and am wondering whether it's worth it paying £20 to change??? Is this stuff about the DVLA losing your data if you don't get one and having to do your test again true?
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>> Is this stuff about the DVLA losing your data if you don't get one and having to do your test again true?
I don't think you'd have to take your test again. But do check the licence is right as soon as you get it back. Worth taking a copy of the old one before sending it too. The old licence and application form are scanned at the DVLA and then stored/archived on microfiche. Well it used to be microfiche but maybe it's all digital now.
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Unless your moving home, I don’t think I would bother changing
However if you have moved address then it’s a offence not to inform the DVLA, which you will have to get the new photo card type
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May just do it to save any problems driving on the continent. Can do it online and then cut your licence in half and send back to DVLA. Thanks for the feedback guys.
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Phone the DVLA first to ensure they have your right entitlements logged. It was easy to do.
You can do it all online - they "grab" your passport photo to process it.
The other way is to keep your original declare it lost and get a photolicence. Not right I know but a all my motorcyclist friends have done it to avoid losing their cherished entitlement.
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Pug,
Can you clarify the issue on lost entitlements?
No intention of taking to powered two wheelers but I passed my test in 77 and have various "grandfather" rights for towing, minbuses and mid weight trucks.
Does converting my licence require that I loose them or is it just a risk of cock up that your biker friends are hedging against?
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its the cock up theory. Many have mysteriously had entitlment lost in the transfer, and once gone is near impossible to prove you had
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Checked my dad's new photo licence and still has the minibus, light truck and towing entitlement on there so don't delete them with a new photocard licence.
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A number of motorcyclists lost their entitlements when they upgraded, one guy was a Police employee who road tested Police Bikes after servicing, a direct appeal by his Chief Constable failed to move DVLA, last I heard was that he had to retake his bike test (probably funded by the taxpayer via Police driving school) - so either keep a certified copy, or claim its lost and keep the original (you can always claim you found it later !) as the DVLA won't accept anything other than documentary evidence of entitlement.
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If you have expired points on your licence and get a free re-issue on chage of address, will the points be removed as part of the re-issue or will they try to charge you £20, the normal fee?
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