How I temporarily ceased to exist

Evening all. I just thought I'd share a little tale of how I temporarily ceased to exist.

My car insurance was due to run out at midnight last night, so yesterday evening I went online to sort out a new policy starting today. All was going well until a big bold piece of text told me to check my driving license, so I did. It seemed it had expired. Lesson there, if you're on the 'new' photocard license, check it, because they expire and have to be renewed from time to time.

So I had no valid driving license. Ok, I'm sure it would have to be a particular awkward person that would create a fuss over that, I'll sort it out immediately I thought. Surely you can do it online now.

So off to the government's website, found the section about renewing a driving license and off I go. At one point it asks for permission to check your details with the passport office to help verify your identity. No problems, so I click to grant permission and put my passport number in. Computer says No! My passport had also expired.

If anyone has tried to open a bank account or do anything requiring a proper identity check recently, you'll know that your driving license and passport are pretty much your identity. I had neither.

Anyway, hurray for the Post Office. Went into town first thing to sort out my lack of existence, and they were very helpful indeed. I had a form that DVLA had sent me a while ago (that I'd forgotten about) and the helpful lady at the post office told me not to bother posting it. Instead she directed me to a booth where my identity was quickly reinstated. It took my photo and my signature and some of my money, and with the help of the lady, DVLA was notified immediately, in real time, that I had miraculously popped back into reality, and I even have a ticket to prove it. The post office lady gave me two receipts. One was my till receipt for the transaction. The other, she explained, was to be treasured until my new license arrives, as it tells Mr Plod that I am real if I should happen to get pulled over for any reason before my new license arrives.

There's a lesson in here. Check the expiry date on your photocard. If its expired, you have no driving license. They can fine you a grand, put 6 points on your license, and crush your car. Oh, and if your passport has expired too then you don't exist.

 

My passport expired in 2003, but I cant see anything stating when my driving licence expires

 

I'm still on a paper license ... but my passport has expired

So, what's the value of my birth certificate (needed for a passport) + council tax bill + amenities + national insurance number (required for certain family related benefits) + polling card (required for choosing who runs the borough/country) + nhs number/medical card (required to receive/give associated dna and affiliated stuff) + bank statements + the fact I'm breathing?

Hmmm, all geared towards the proposed ID card (which proved too controversial/costly to impliment) yet neglected to take account of computer (you didn't exist) vs human (you did exist) errors

Grr! What about if you do not drive and you do not travel abroad? Do you cease to exist then?

And if, by that definition, you "cease to exist", can you default on council tax, employment tax, paying for food at a checkout? Paying your bills? National Insurance?

What a farce!!

 

Even a paper licence would have a end date, Pete. Maybe time to check it? The newer version of photo ID licence is only valid for 10yrs at a time (I believe, anyway)

 

I've looked, the paper bit says provisional until 2025.
The plastic bit says 4b, 05 05 19, just noticed a note in microscopic writing on the other side 4b, licence valid till.
They dont make it very clear, you need a magnifying glass to read it.

 

I believe (but don't quote me if Plod asks), that as long as none of your details have changed, then you are not obliged to change to the new format.

I also believe that if you're still on the old paper only license, then it doesn't expired until you turn 70 odd year old, and even then you only have to sign a declaration that you're still fit to drive and then they'll renew it. I believe it is only those of us that either passed our test after the new license format came in, or changed details since, that are at risk of ceasing to exist.

 

I only got a plastic one because the flimsy paper one they issued me with back in the 70s fell apart.
It was a bit embarrassing when I wanted to hire a car.

 

Pete, go by the earliest day noted: e.g. 05.05. 19 - always err on the side of caution!

another way to raise revenue

It's a good point, well presented, Clue.

My argument remains: this is an ill thought out curtailment of people's liberties, based on too many grey areas on the definition of "proof" of ID!

 

Pete, I do believe it expires on your 70th birthday ... as mine would have. Since I moved to Portugal and exchanged it for a Portuguese license it expired on my 60th and I have now had to renew it for my 65th, then it will be 70th ... so the UK one is 'longer lasting' ...

 

Apparently it expires on the 5 May 2019, I will be 64 then.
Its since they brought in the photo/plastic ones, guess they think you need to update the photo.
Of course it costs money to do that, but I'm sure its money well spent.

The money can go towards supporting some terrorist living in the UK who is scared to go back home because they want to rip him apart.

 

Of course! ...

... (ok, call me a cynic )

 

I find that strange ... but then again, I find a lot of things to do with the UK strange which is why I am here and not there ...

 

I'm a bit puzzled because as far as I'm aware, my license shouldn't have run out until July. In July, it will be 10 years since I passed my driving test, and the license is supposed to last 10 years. By pure weird coincidence I bumped into an old mate at the post office. He was there for the same reason as me. He last renewed his license 6 years ago. There seems to be little or no logic to the expiry date.

 

I have to hold my hand on my heart Armandii and say I actually turned in a photocard not a paper license here ...