There are a few mandatory things that need to be done, in the UK, before an individual starts to drive a car or ride a motorcycle. These include getting a driving licence, registering the vehicle and insuring it, paying vehicle tax, and getting an MOT. In the UK, a driving licence is an official document which authorises the holder to drive motor vehicles. They are administered in Scotland and Wales, England by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).

If an individual loses their driving licence (either it gets stolen, destroyed or damaged) he/she will need to apply for a substitute. An individual can apply for a replacement of lost driving licence with the DVLA, by visiting the www.gov.uk website and filling in the online application process for the lost driving licence replacement. We, DNS Accountants, will provide some tips and recommendations for a stolen, destroyed, damaged or lost driving licence in UK. To apply online replacement for driving licence, an individual will have to use the Government Gateway ID and if he/she doesn’t have one or need to re-register, they will get an ID as part of your application.

Firstly, an individual should contact the police if the driving licence is lost. To replace the lost driving licence one will need to make sure that:

He / she is an inhabitant of Great Britain (GB); the service is different for Northern Ireland

He / she is an inhabitant of Great Britain (GB); the service is different for Northern Ireland Pay £20 by debit or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Electron, or Delta)

Pay £20 by debit or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Electron, or Delta) Agency workers

Agency workers Justify that he / she is not disqualified from driving for any reason

Justify that he / she is not disqualified from driving for any reason Provide details of addresses where he /she has stayed for the past 3 years

Also, details regarding driving licence number, National Insurance (NI) number and passport number need to be provided for identity.

DVLA will use your passport photo for the new licence in case the below information are correct:

Your driving licence is going to expire in 2 years

Your driving licence is going to expire in 2 years You must provide your passport number once you have a functional UK passport

You must provide your passport number once you have a functional UK passport You give consent for DVLA to use your photo

DVLA will inform you once an appropriate electronic photo is unavailable. They’ll send you a form so that you can provide them a new photo

By using photo driving licence renewal service you could ensure whether the photo on your licence is update.

Replace a Lost Driving Licence

In order to replace a lost driving licence, an individual can call 0844-453-0118 and once through to the DVLA press the following options:

Press (1) to get put through to “ Licences ”

Press (1) to get put through to “ ” Press (3) to select the option to replace

Press (3) to select the option to replace Press (1) to choose the substitutes section

Press (1) to choose the substitutes Press (1) if you would like to change your licence without any changes to your particulars

An individual can sort a replacement in 3 different ways: online, by post or over the phone (same as above: 0844-453-0118). As stated earlier, to make an online application, an individual will need to apply through the Government Gateway ID. By completing the application online, an individual should be able to get a new photo-card within a week. However, if an individual finds the old licence post getting a replacement, he / she will be required to return the old licence to the DVLA. Also, an individual will be required to include an elucidation as to what transpired, if he / she has requested or received a replacement.

Driving licence fees

The fee varies depending on if an individual wants to:

get their first full or provisional GB licence

get their first full or provisional GB licence get a replacement for their lost or stolen driving licence

get a replacement for their lost or stolen driving licence change the name, address or photo

change the name, address or photo exchange a driving licence, i.e. exchange a paper licence for a photo-card

Get the first GB driving licence

The cost to replace a stolen, lost, spoiled or destroyed licence is £20.0. Cost of other activities is:

Type of licence Online application Apply by post First provisional licence – car, and motorcycle £34.0 £43.0 First full driving licence after clearing the driving test N/A Free - £17.0 (in order to use a different photo from the one on the provisional) First full GB licence in exchange for a full European Community (EC), European Economic Area (EEA) or other designated foreign licence N/A £43.0

Change of name, address or photo on the photo-card driving licence

The fee depends on what specification is being changed and by which means. The following table will give some idea.

What is changing Online process Change by post Address No charge No charge Name N/A No charge Photo £14.0 £17.0 Both, photo and name,together N/A £17.0 Both, photo and address, together £14.0 £17.0

Renew a driving licence

Photo-card licence is valid for 10 years unless otherwise stated. An individual will get a reminder to renew their photo before the current licence ends. Also, an individual can renew the expired licence at a Post Office at a cost of £21.5

Reason for renewal Online application Apply by post Renewing an expired driving licence £14.0 £17.0 If ages is 70 or over No charge No charge For medical reasons N/A No charge

Add, renew or remove an entitlement

Reason for change Online application Apply by post Add an entitlement to full or provisional licence (to drive a bus or lorry) N/A No charge Renew an entitlement to drive a lorry or bus N/A No charge Giving-up entitlement to drive a lorry or bus N/A No charge

An individual can also change the photo at a cost of £17.0

Exchange a paper or non-GB driving licence

What needs to be exchanged Online application Apply by post Exchange paper licence for a photo-card with address change No charge No charge Exchange paper licence for photo-card with name change N/A Free Only paper licence for photo-card with other details changed £20.0 £20.0 Northern Ireland licence in exchange for a Great Britain licence N/A Free Full European Community (EC), European Economic Area (EEA) or other designated foreign licence, if a prior GB licence held N/A £43.0

Conclusion

Even though it is not the end of the world if an individual loses the driving licence, it is vital to apply for a replacement as soon as possible. The simplest and quickest way to apply for a new driving licence is to visit the www.gov.uk website. If an individual does not have access to the internet, he /she can send an application through post. Please remember to report the loss or theft of the driving licence to the police, to prevent any misuse of the driving licence. If an individual require any more information about replacing the lost driving licence, we suggest visiting our website www.dnsassociates.co.uk and get in touch with us at +44-333-130-5749 or e-mail at: info@dnsaccountants.co.uk.

Benefits of working with DNS Accountants

DNS Accountants in Harrow is a well-known taxation and accounting firm in and around the UK. Our team of ACAs and CAs works with clients to manage their accounts and support them with issues encompassing driving licence in the UK. Our other services include:

Auto enrolment

Auto enrolment Self assessment

Self assessment HR and payroll services

HR and payroll services Inheritance tax guidance, and individual and business taxation

Inheritance tax guidance, and individual and business taxation Accounting and bookkeeping services

Accounting and bookkeeping services Value added tax (VAT) planning, along with others

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