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It's a bad day at black rock (not the film).

Bill.B

Bill.B

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Well the day eventually arrived when it was a mandatory requirement for me to surrender my ancient paper driving license (ageism at its finest) for one of those new plastic things, a sad day indeed. I did like my paper license as in the past it has given many foreign car rental companies (and a local bobby) a slight head ache as it wasn't what they were used to dealing with (computer says no! 😄) Anyway, to be fair to the DVLA the online application was an absolute doddle and the card dropped through my letterbox just 8 days later so I can't complain. However, I won't be sending my old license back as per their request because I'll keep it for prosperity reasons and if anyone asks, it got lost in the post. Prove otherwise.
 
I surrendered my paper one last year - just make damn sure that what you had on the old one has been correctly done on the new (to me) classifications. I heard on the grapevine that some motorcyclists had found their ability to stay on the road compromised....
 
The paper licence was a headache you didn't need, if you drove in Europe ( other continents are available)
You had to get an international license 🤬
 
I had to surrender my paper licence temporarily when I had brain surgery. When I got it back 6 weeks later (I know, waste of time and effort) they had left off my entitlement to drive 7.5 tonne lorries. Since that was my job at the time, this was a bit of a problem. Took several months, a medical, a solicitor, and £750 to get it back.....
 
Spud gun said:
The paper licence was a headache you didn't need, if you drove in Europe ( other continents are available)
You had to get an international license 🤬
Click to expand...
I never had a problem in any of the EU countries I visited over the last 35 years.
Also, I hired a car in Fuertuventura this year without too much effort and I certainly didn't need an international license.
 
My paper one went about 2 years ago. Dont you autommatically lose the 7.5 tonne bit when you turn 70 unless you het a medical etc etc. Since Ive never driven a truck it makes no difference to me. I stopped caravanning at the same time so dont need that bit either....if there is a bit
 
Bill.B said:
However, I won't be sending my old license back as per their request because I'll keep it for prosperity reasons and if anyone asks, it got lost in the post. Prove otherwise.
Click to expand...
I have three driving license card. I've always kept old one as a bit of a keepsake. I have no idea why. So far, ive not been thrown in jail for existing 3 times on one ethereal plain, nor have they chased me up.

I'm convinced they just hope you sent it and those that do, they just get shredded...

I have an International Driving Permit, although they're generally not needed in Europe. Ive used mine in the US and Australia.
 
Bill.B said:
Well the day eventually arrived when it was a mandatory requirement for me to surrender my ancient paper driving license (ageism at its finest) for one of those new plastic things, a sad day indeed. I did like my paper license as in the past it has given many foreign car rental companies (and a local bobby) a slight head ache as it wasn't what they were used to dealing with (computer says no! 😄) Anyway, to be fair to the DVLA the online application was an absolute doddle and the card dropped through my letterbox just 8 days later so I can't complain. However, I won't be sending my old license back as per their request because I'll keep it for prosperity reasons and if anyone asks, it got lost in the post. Prove otherwise.
Click to expand...
I didn't send mine back either (last year)
Only changed it because it was getting difficult to hire a car abroad 🤷
 
I've had several friends lose their motorcycle entitlement and had big issues getting it back.

On the other side, I knew one guy who passed his car test, sent in the certificate and the correct funds and his licence was returned with added extra's, class 1 HGV and motorcycle passes. He's never even been in a truck or ridden a bike, but keeps old just in case.

This was in 1976 and even after several changes of address and renewed licenses, they remained in place. Just for laughs, he even went and got the medicals when they were introduced. I've not seen him in ten years or more and he may have given up on the HGV part.
 
Gym.Hodgson said:
Apparently they’re known pre-1997 as “Grandfather rights” 😆Nowt like a bit of ageism!
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Yup, when you all got 7.5t entitlement without having to sit a test! Those were the days. When i was 9. And didn't get such rights when i passed my test in 2005 :ROFLMAO: Thankfully, Volvo paid for mine when I was a tech with them for a short period.

For those who passed their test between Jan 1997 and Jan 2021, you also had to take a separate test for B+E (Car+ trailer upto 3,500). They scrapped it during covid to free up examiners for those waiting to take Class 1 tests.
 
Jamex said:
I surrendered my paper one last year - just make damn sure that what you had on the old one has been correctly done on the new (to me) classifications. I heard on the grapevine that some motorcyclists had found their ability to stay on the road compromised....
Click to expand...
I lost all bike permissions when replacing a licence

The replacement, after I complained, came back with not only bike but some other classes added!

So I let it go...
 
Jamex said:
I surrendered my paper one last year - just make damn sure that what you had on the old one has been correctly done on the new (to me) classifications. I heard on the grapevine that some motorcyclists had found their ability to stay on the road compromised....
Click to expand...
I know several bikers that got shafted on renewal and one of them was a copper but DVLA insisted they were correct , flip side of their ineptitude is that my missus has a full unlimited bike licence despite the fact that she's never ridden one !
 
Captain_Saxa said:
I have an International Driving Permit, although they're generally not needed in Europe. Ive used mine in the US and Australia.
Click to expand...
Not many people realise that they need an international driving permit for America. I've been five times and hired cars using my British paper licence. Nobody at the hire companies batted an eyelid. The travel agents didn't say anything when we booked the fly drive holiday either.
It wasn't until I travelled to India that I knew the IDP even existed, when I read the list of countries requiring it, I nearly fell through the floor.
It isn't really a massive issue in India though. Anybody will hire a vehicle to you, I normally get a Honda 140cc scooter. All hire vehicles carry black number plates with yellow lettering, this tells the police that you're foreign and on a hired bike or car. That makes them pull you up immediately, where they then demand your licence. There's usually five of them in a Mahindra Jeep. The boss looks at your licence. If it's a British licence he fines you on the spot, usually demanding between £20 and £100. The trick is, you keep £10 in Rupees in one pocket, and the rest of your money somewhere else. Once you claim to have only £10, he'll take it and let you carry on. There's no receipt or threat of arrest, the money is used to buy them all lunch!
Once you get used to the corruption, and learn about the international driving permit, you hand it to him, this really pees him off, as he can't fine you and they have to pull somebody else. It doesn't even matter if you're drunk and you fall off the scooter, arresting you would be too much work! 😂
The police in India must be very wealthy men.
 
Brooksy said:
Not many people realise that they need an international driving permit for America. I've been five times and hired cars using my British paper licence. Nobody at the hire companies batted an eyelid. The travel agents didn't say anything when we booked the fly drive holiday either.
It wasn't until I travelled to India that I knew the IDP even existed, when I read the list of countries requiring it, I nearly fell through the floor.
It isn't really a massive issue in India though. Anybody will hire a vehicle to you, I normally get a Honda 140cc scooter. All hire vehicles carry black number plates with yellow lettering, this tells the police that you're foreign and on a hired bike or car. That makes them pull you up immediately, where they then demand your licence. There's usually five of them in a Mahindra Jeep. The boss looks at your licence. If it's a British licence he fines you on the spot, usually demanding between £20 and £100. The trick is, you keep £10 in Rupees in one pocket, and the rest of your money somewhere else. Once you claim to have only £10, he'll take it and let you carry on. There's no receipt or threat of arrest, the money is used to buy them all lunch!
Once you get used to the corruption, and learn about the international driving permit, you hand it to him, this really pees him off, as he can't fine you and they have to pull somebody else. It doesn't even matter if you're drunk and you fall off the scooter, arresting you would be too much work! 😂
The police in India must be very wealthy men.
Click to expand...
This is f°cked. But also something I got used to in Egypt by being an easy white guy to pull over 🤣 Normally, telling them in Arabic that this isn't my first time in the country and I actually live here right now it's enough to send them packing. They know exactly what they're doing!
 
chris l said:
I lost all bike permissions when replacing a licence

The replacement, after I complained, came back with not only bike but some other classes added!

So I let it go...
Click to expand...
My neighbour had a Reliant Robin because you could drive one without a license. He got done for something and banned for a year........a year later hes driving a Ford Escort.....they had given him a full license when he applied for it back.
 
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