LICENCE TO THRILL
Are paper driving licences illegal?
Including if you can be fined for having the wrong licence
PAPER driving licences were no more in 1998 with thousands of Brits swapping to a paper and plastic hybrid model.
In 2015 the paper licence was abandoned altogether in favour of a digital system.
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Are old-style paper driving licences still valid?
A paper-only driving licence is valid if it is fully up to date.
From 1998 - when the paper-only system was scrapped - a plastic licence was handed out along with the old-school paper counterpart.
The paper licence allowed drivers to keep an eye on the penalty points they were slapped with.
However, on June 8, 2015, the paper system was abandoned completely to be replaced with an online database.
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A driver who has both a plastic and paper licence can destroy the paper version.
But, if a driver only has a paper licence from before March 2000 it can be kept and used day-to-day as long as all the details are up to date.
That is until the driver turns 70 years old - when their driving licence must be renewed and a photo card is issued free of charge.
Do I need to get a new photocard driving licence?
No, drivers don't need to get a new photocard licence if they have a paper-only licence and all the details on it are accurate.
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If the details are not accurate - such as if their address has changed - drivers must apply for a new licence on the DVLA website and a plastic card will be issued.
The DVLA will ask for details including the current out-of-date licence, a valid UK passport or other ID, and addresses covering the last three years.
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The photo featured on the plastic licence will be the same one as on your UK passports - unless you opt not to.
Brits can keep driving while their licence is being renewed under certain conditions.
Swapping a paper licence out for a photocard with a change of address or a change of name is free.
Drivers can also swap their paper licence for a plastic one without any details needing to be changed - but this costs £20.
If a driver already has a plastic licence, it is free to change the address with the DVLA, either online or by post.
It is also free to change the picture on driving licences if the driver is over 70 or carries a medical short period licence.
Otherwise they must pay £14, or £17 by post, to change driving licence photos - which can be paid by credit or debit card.
Filling out the form on the gov.uk website should take no longer than about ten minutes.
Updated driving licences are expected to arrive in the post within about five days.
Once you have a plastic licence you will need to update it every ten years, so make sure to keep an eye on the expiry date.
Can I be fined for only having a paper licence?
No, you cannot be fined for having a paper licence if all of the details are valid.
But if the information is incorrect you could face massive penalties.
Police can issue fines of up to £1,000 to a driver if they don’t tell them of a change of address.
Driving licence photos must be replaced every 10 years - with a £1,000 fine also slapped on drivers who have outdated pictures.
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Renewals cost £14 online and £17 by post.
Licences must be renewed when the driver hits 70 - with subsequent renewals every three years.
Most Common Illegal Driving Activities
Here's a list of reckless driving behaviour and the fines and penalties you risk getting from it.
- Using phone while driving
Cheeky glance at a phone screen will result in six penalty points on your licence and a £200 fine
New drivers might lose their licence if caught doing so within two years of obtaining it - Speeding
Lovers of fast and furious will end up with minimum three points and £100 fine - Running a red light
This offence will incur three points and £100 fine - Middle lane hogging
It constitutes careless driving and police will hand you out a £100 fine with three penalty points - Undertaking
This could possibly result in three points on your license and a £100 fine
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