Driving Licence Renewal
My driving licence was due for renewal last August but obviously there was an 11 month extension due to the pandemic.
So I've just tried to renew it on line as there is so much news about delays at DVSA. And what a frustrating experience that's been!
Get all necessary documents to hand it says - ok, and off we go. Fill in all the details, enter card payment number, hit return and ...... oh, session timed out! You've been inactive for 20 minutes so session has expired to "protect your data". Well maybe it took a bit of time, don't think it was 20 minutes between entering anything so let's have another go.
Enter all the details again in what I know was only about 3 minutes, hit return and ... guess what? Session timed out! 
Anyone else tried doing this and had the same problem or is it just me? 
Comments
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Possibly slightly off topic, but I didn't realise you had to pay to renew a driving licence, just goes to show that each day is a learning day
When we moved house 3 years ago we had to change ours of course, which was free. Up to that point we both had paper licences. Having checked on the gov.uk website it's free from age 70, and mine runs out not long before the 10 years are up, so won't have to pay. There are some advantages to getting older after all
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DVLA sent me a 'reminder new licence application form' but I was warned of delays so I've just done mine online. It was so easy and no charges because of my age. My new licence arrived in the post within two weeks.
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Ours were due in July - I looked online and did both mine and hubby’s forms in about 10 minutes, paid £14 each and only waited a less than a week. Impressed with the service. Old licences cut in half and returned to DVLA as instructed.
Only downside, now due in May 2031 instead of July! I also realised that I will be 70 in only 16 years 😳 a very sobering thought.
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Don’t talk to me about the ruddy DVLA😡😡😡 I am currently into month two of waiting for a replacement license, and they still have all my essential documents. I am seriously thinking about contacting my local MP about the fiasco I currently find myself embroiled in. Not a happy bunny at all😡
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Same as Margaret and hers was a medical licence because of her diabetes. Given the long form she had to fill out with the prospect of needing to contact her doctor (can't imagine that happened because of the short time it took to supply the new licence)
My own experience of the DVLA has always been excellent, particularly the help they provided when I had my wallet stolen in Italy which contained my photo driving licence amongst other things.
Perhaps the difference in speed of getting things done might depend of whether it is an automated process or one that needs individual input to get through the system?
David
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Just as an update, I tried again on, I think, Wednesday. First two attempts I got the "session expired" page half way through and on the third attempt I got it right at the very end after entering all my payment details. Had just about decided to give up but almost immediately got an email acknowledging my application and payment. So, hopefully, new licence on the way.
But the system did put me in mind of CT for a little while!
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Mine arrived in the post on Saturday morning! So great work by DVLA once I'd manage to navigate to the end of the application process. Will have to do Mrs M's in a few week's time so it'll be interesting to see if we get the same problems again.
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Good luck!!
It sounds as though if you can actually get through and do it on line it is quicker, my postal method after failing the on line set up was extremely slow and I even got a letter mid way....so much for paperless communications.
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When I renewed my license a few months ago it came within a couple of days. However, when we had a problem with the wrong colour being put on the V5 for our new MH, it took 5 months to sort out. Only just arriving in time for our trip to France.
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My OH submitted her renewal by post ( medical issues) over two months ago. Her existing one expires Tuesday and still nothing from DVLA.
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Applied on Monday lunchtime for licence renewal, did it online although I was't sure if it would be accepted as passport has now expired, filled in form, on passport question clicked on no, submitted form, no problems at all, new licence arrived Friday lunchtime....4 days from application to receiving....very good service I thought.
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OH's renewal has been three months in the pipeline so far.
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Same with me, prior to going away on our latest trip. I had expected not to have received it till our return, but was most pleasantly surprised just how quickly it came. It was my second renewal, so I wonder if that made any difference.
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It’s not a scam. The poster isn’t 70 so the cost is as quoted, online renewal £14. It cost me that for a year and a half as my last one expired at 68 and a half.😀
Thats not to say there aren’t scams about. It pays to check you are on the government website.
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If you can apply online, then it’s quick, but sending stuff to them through the post is a different matter. They have many staff working from home, and there is industrial action by a Union that is deliberately targeting areas most likely to inconvenience the public. They receive 60,000 envelopes a day! I sent my D4 medical, and C2 application form to them on 2nd August to have C1 and CE put back on my licence (removed at 70) in anticipation of purchasing a 4250kg motorhome. Luckily, delivery not until March 1st 2022, so hope to have something back by then🤪 A miserable effort by the DVLA all round I’m afraid, though they do have problems to overcome internally.
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