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All right, let's talk about that little card in your wallet.
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You're driving license.
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It's more than just proof you can drive or some handy ID, you know, it's a legal document.
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And keeping it accurate, well, let's be honest, it's one of those admin tasks that's
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super easy to put off.
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But today, we're going to make it simple.
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So does any of this ring of bell?
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You've just finished unpacking in a new house, or maybe you've gotten married and have a
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new surname, or maybe you've just caught a glimpse of your license and realized, wow,
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photos from a decade ago.
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If any of that sounds familiar, then the DVLA needs to hear from you.
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And if you need a little push, here it is.
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This is the potential find up to a thousand pounds.
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If you don't let the DVLA know, you've moved.
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Yeah, suddenly that little bit of paperwork seems a whole lot more important, doesn't it?
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So let's kick things off with the most common update of all, changing your address.
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The great news is this one's the easiest to start out, and I'm going to walk you through exactly
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how it works.
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And honestly, this is the best part.
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Changing your address online is completely, totally free.
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It's one of those rare government things that doesn't cost a penny, plus you can do it
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in minutes, right from your computer.
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The whole thing is super straight forward, just to heads up, though, before you start have
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your driving license in hand.
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You'll also need to know all the addresses you've lived at for the past three years.
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Once you have that, just pop onto the gov.uk website, fill out the form, and you're done.
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Now I know what you're thinking.
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Do I have to stop driving while I wait for the new car to arrive?
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That's a really common question, and the answer is, no, absolutely not.
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You are perfectly legal to keep driving.
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Your new license will be with you soon.
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Oh, and before we move on, this is a really important one.
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Updating your license is just part of the job.
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You also have to update your vehicle's V5C logbook and your vehicle tax direct debit.
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Don't forget those.
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They're just as crucial.
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Alright, next up.
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Let's talk about changing your name, your title, or your gender.
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This is obviously just as important, but the process is actually quite different from
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just updating your address.
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So here's the key takeaway.
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You can't do a name or gender change online.
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It has to be done the old fashioned way, by post.
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The good news?
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It's still free.
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But, and this is a big but, you have to send in original documents.
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No photocopies allowed.
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So, what exactly needs to go in the envelope?
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Well, you'll need the right form, which is usually the D1 form for cars.
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You can grab one from most post offices.
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Then you'll need to send that in with your old license and your original proof, like a marriage
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certificate or a deed poll.
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Okay, on to our third section, renewing your license.
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Every photo card license has to be renewed every ten years.
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It's basically so they have a photo of you that, you know, actually looks like you.
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And you've got a few ways to do it.
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Honestly, just look at this table.
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Online is the clear winner.
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It's the cheapest at 14 pounds, and it's by far the fastest.
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You'll usually get your new license in about a week.
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The other options will cost you more and take longer.
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Now, here's a little detail that sometimes catches people out.
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Let's say you renew your license a bit early.
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The 10-year countdown on your new one starts from the day your application is approved, not
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from the expiry date on your old one, so just something to keep in mind.
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All right, let's tackle a situation that's always a bit of a nightmare.
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Your license has gone missing.
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Whether it's lost, stolen, or maybe even destroyed, here's what you need to do.
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It's that sinking feeling, isn't it?
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You're looking for it in your wallet, and it's just not there.
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The most important thing is not to panic.
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There's a clear and simple process to get it sorted.
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First things first, what's it going to cost?
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It's a flat fee of 20 pounds to replace a license for any reason, lost, stolen, damaged,
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you name it.
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And yep, you can do this online too.
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But hold on, this is absolutely critical.
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If you think your license was stolen, not just misplaced, your very first call should
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be to the police.
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Report it as stolen before you even start the process with the DVLA.
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So what happens if you find your old license down the back of the sofa after you've already
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applied for a replacement?
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Well, you're legally required to send that old one back.
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Just pop it in an envelope with a quick note explaining what happened, and send it off
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to the DVLA in Swansea.
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Okay, we have covered a lot of ground, so to make sure it all sticks, let's boil it all down
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into a final simple checklist that you can refer back to.
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This is basically your cheat sheet, changing your address, do it online.
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It's free, changing your name, you have to use the post, but it's also free.
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For renewing or replacing a license, online is your best bet again, costing 14 and 20 pounds.
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Simple as that.
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We've mentioned this a couple of times, so let's just be clear.
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The V5C or the logbook is the official registration document for your car.
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And just like your driving license, the details on it, especially your address, have to
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be kept up to date.
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And let's end with the most important point.
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This isn't just good housekeeping.
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It's your legal responsibility.
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As a driver, it's on you to make sure the DVLA has your correct and current details.
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So that brings us to the final question, really.
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Why not just check right now?
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Take 10 seconds, pull out your license, and have a look.
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Is that address still right?
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When does it expire?
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Don't put it off any longer.
