Some drivers in the UK still hold a paper driving licence. As many official documents in the UK have gone digital nowadays, you may wonder “Is the paper driving licence still valid”. In this article, we are going to explain what a paper driving licence is, how to exchange a paper driving licence for a photocard and other related issues.
What is a paper driving licence
A paper driving licence is the old UK driving licence. Paper driving licences were issued by the DVLA (The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) until July 1998 for new drivers as well as existing licence holders until 31st March 2000. It contains personal information, such as the holder’s name, address and driving entitlements. Also, it shows the vehicle category the holder is qualified to drive and the penalty points if he has any. Unlike the current photocard, it does not have a photo of the licence holder.
Are paper driving licences still valid
It depends. Some paper driving licences are still valid in the UK. If you possess a paper driving licence that is issued before March 2000, it is valid until you turn 70 years old or change any details on the licence. However, if the information on your paper driving licence is no longer correct, it will be invalid. For example, if you have moved to a different address or changed your name, it will become invalid. Using an invalid licence for any reason could result in a fine of £1000 by the police.
Do I need to exchange my paper driving licence for a photocard?
Do you need a photo driving licence? This depends on the conditions of your paper driving licence.
On the one hand, in case your paper driving licence is still valid as we mentioned above, you don’t have to exchange it for a photocard. However, you can always exchange it voluntarily since a plastic photocard has some benefits over a paper licence, such as being easier to keep, having your information available online, etc.
On the other hand, you should exchange your paper driving licence for a photocard in case it is invalid due to the following reasons:
- Change of name or address
Many British women change their names after they get married. If you are one of them or your has changed your name due to other reasons, you should update your driving licence by exchanging it for a photocard.
- Licence renewal after age 70
Before the date you turn age 70, you need to renew your paper licence. The DVLA has replaced paper licences with photocards since 1998, and you will be issued a photocard free of charge when you renew your paper driving licence.
- Lost, stolen or damaged paper licence
If your paper driving licence is lost, stolen or damaged, you need to replace it with a photocard right away. Given the fact that you are medically and legally cleared to drive, and your application is no more than 1 year, you are allowed to drive during the time you are exchanging your licence.
How to exchange a paper driving licence for a photocard
There are 2 ways to exchange a paper driving licence for a photocard. You can either apply by post or apply online.
Apply by post
If your name has been changed after you received your paper driving licence, you can not apply for the photocard licence online. Instead, you need to apply by post following these steps:
1. Go to a post office. Application forms are available at most post offices.
2. Complete form D1 for cars and motorbikes, or form D2 for lorries and buses.
3. Send your application form and documents required to the DVLA.
Required documents include:
- Identity documents (Original), such as the 9-digit UK passport number, a share code, a UK birth certificate, etc.
- A passport-size photo in color.
- £20 if your paper licence is lost, stolen or damaged. The fee must be paid by cheques or postal orders. Cash is not acceptable.
Address you should send to:
- For cars and motorbikes
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BU
- For buses and lorries
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BR
4. Once your application is approved, you will receive your photocard driving licence within 3 weeks.
Apply online
If you are eligible and prefer to apply for photocard driving licence online, follow these steps:
1. Check your eligibility as follows:
- You should be a resident of Great Britain.
- You are qualified to drive.
- You are not prevented from driving for any reason.
- You meet the requirement of minimum eyesight.
2. Prepare relevant documents as follows:
- Valid UK passport or other identity documents.
- Paper driving licence.
- National insurance number (if you have one).
- Your addresses over the last 3 years.
- A printout passport photo (if your digital photo is not available or you don’t want to use it).
3. Complete the application on the DVLA online system
- Go the the DVLA website.
- Enter your personal information and click the “next” button until you fill out all the blankets.
- Make the payment online if necessary. You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card.
- Send a passport photo by post to the DVLA if you can not use your digital passport photo or don’t want to use it.
- Receive a confirmation email from DVLA once your application is finished.
4. Receive your photocard driving licence.
Usually, DVLA will send you your driving licence in 5 days.
Photo for your photocard licence
As mentioned above, DVLA will use the photo on your UK digital passport as the photo for your photocard licence. However, in case the old photo is not available or you are not satisfied with it, you can replace it with a new one by sending a new passport photo to the DVLA address by post.
To get a compliant and satisfying passport photo, you can either get it at a photo studio or simply create it at home using online passport photo makers, such as AiPassportPhotos. You can upload a photo that you have taken at home and it will automatically resize the photo and change the photo background to a compliant standard. It takes 15 seconds to process a UK passport photo and downloading the digital photo is completely free.
Does the DVLA still issue paper licences?
No. The DVLA has no longer issued paper licences since 1988. In 1988, they introduced the plastic photocard and the paper counterpart to replace the old paper licence. The paper counterpart was used to record the licence points of the holder, but it stopped being issued in June 2015 because too many licence holders have lost their paper counterparts. If you are still holding a paper counterpart, it is invalid. Instead, you can check your licence points and other related information online nowadays.
Paper driving licence in Northern Ireland
Is paper driving licence still valid in Northern Ireland? The answer is “Yes”. Although the paper counterpart was canceled in the UK in 2015, the change does not affect the licencing system in Northern Ireland. The DVA (Driver and Vehicle Agency) NI still issues driving licences made up of a photocard and a paper counterpart. If you are a driver in Northern Ireland, the paper counterpart is important for you and you should keep it safe. For the single-part paper driving licences, they applied to the rules of Great Britain we explain above, which means they may still be valid before the switchover policy to photocard licences.
FAQ
Is it legal to have a paper driving licence?
Yes. Having a paper driving licence is legal, but driving with it depends on whether your licence is still valid. If your paper driving licence was issued before March 2000, it is valid until you are 70 years old or you change personal details on the licence. In this case, you can drive with a paper driving licence legally. However, if you drive with an invalid paper driving licence, it is illegal and you could be fined with £1000 by the police.
How much to change the paper driving licence to a card?
The fee for changing a paper driving licence to a photocard depends on different situations. In case you still have your paper licence and you have changed your name, getting a new photocard licence is free, whereas in case your paper licence is damaged, stolen, lost or destroyed, you need to pay £20 for the new licence.
Can I use my paper driving licence abroad?
Yes. Some countries allow British citizens to drive with a valid UK paper driving licence, but you need to meet specific requirements by your destination country. For example, you can use a UK paper driving licence in the US for up to 1 year, but you must carry an IDP (International Driving Permit) along with your UK licence.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that the UK paper driving licences were replaced by photocards 27 years ago, some of them are still valid. A valid paper driving licence serves the same role as a photocard driving licence, and it is not mandatory to get a photocard. However, it is always recommended that you exchange your paper licence for a photocard which is more convenient and secure.