Is it a legal requirement to return a driving license during a disqualification?

Phate

Phate

Phate

Caporegime
Joined
1 Nov 2003
Posts
35,691
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Hi all,

Long story short, I've got a disqualification until December, TT99.

So, a letter has come from the DVLA asking to return my driving license and stating that they'll issue a replacement when the ban lifts. No problems.

However, I live in Portugal and here everyone has an ID card as standard, I cannot get one as I do not have citizenship and/or I'm not Portuguese! :p

So I wanted to keep it to use it as a means of ID as you do get asked for it more often than not.

I wanted to know if I can keep hold of the license for said reason. I know obviously I cannot drive and wouldn't ever dream of it. I want to know if I legally have to send it back or are they just politely asking?

TIA
Jake
 
If they ever question it just say "I sent it, not my problem it didn't arrive" Same as most other people do when they renew.
 
The main issue I can foresee if is getting your licence back after the disqual period if they say they haven't received the old one back. Expect that to be a PITA.
 
Send a plain letter fracked. Once arrived save the signature and proof of arrival as a pdf.

Come December say you sent it and provide that plain letter tracking number.
 
Hmmm I'm not looking to "trick" it out of them. Just if I HAVE to send it to them, if I don't then I won't and won't say anything either.
 
How on earth did you find the time to rack up that many points when you sold your car and went travelling around the world? :p
 
[TW]Fox;29786361 said:
How on earth did you find the time to rack up that many points when you sold your car and went travelling around the world? :p
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The car isn't sold, it's in a garage 5 minutes away currently untaxed, uninsured and without a valid MOT :p - next time Dads firm has a job in North Portugal they're going to collect it and take it back for me.

Anyway, to cut a long story short despite me changing my address to Dads for everything before I left I apparently had an outstanding speeding offence and the police requested confirmation of the driver to my old address, obviously they didn't get anything back, they then slapped me with a 'failing to produce information to the plod' offence a big fine and 6 points, taking me over my 12 point limit. Ergo, I'm now disqualified.

Despite the irrefutable proof I was several thousand miles away and there was no way I could've known about any of this, they still went ahead and did it. I found out I was disqualified 2 weeks before returning back to Portugal :p - I've got a statuary declaration booked in in the future to try and argue it. But I can't see the courts actually siding with me.

Funnily enough the form from the DVLA requested my license back came to the correct address. That's how I found out about the whole thing!
 
I suspect the ones sent back to them go directly to the shredding room.

Unless they start paying for tracked returns i can't see how they could enforce it.
 
The new one will have TT99 in the endorsements

ofc don't expect to actually get insurance for 5 years after the ban - TT99 is the heaviest loading of all - since its unknown WHY you got banned , whereas DR10 is a known (drink driving)
 
Harlequin said:
The new one will have TT99 in the endorsements

ofc don't expect to actually get insurance for 5 years after the ban - TT99 is the heaviest loading of all - since its unknown WHY you got banned , whereas DR10 is a known (drink driving)
Click to expand...

Insurance is different here. You insure the car, not a person to a car.

For example in Ana's family, there are 3 cars. Her dad has a company policy which covers all 3 cars. ANYONE - including you, can get in any of those cars, drive, and be covered.

If a friend or a cousin came over and we needed their car for whatever reason, providing the owner has insured the car, we can drive it.

The protection from theft is that you have to prove your relationship to the owner, easiest way is through signed documentation left in the glove box just in case of being pulled over.
 
Harlequin said:
thank you - yes then it is very different!
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Took me a while to get my head around it as well :p

Especially when her Dad tossed the keys to his car over and didn't even seem the slightest bit concerned about insurance cover :p - and he is very law abiding!
 
Just say you've lost it? List wallet last week etc.

That's what I did when I had to update my picture, going to collect them to see how old and bald I get :D
 
Keep it, tell them you've lost it, or you've sent it and it's been lost.

I was banned before with a TT99, the court took my license straight away. Was my only ID, was a right pain for the next 6 months.
 
I surrendered my licence last year due to a medical condition (got it back now though) and they asked me to return the licence and paper counterpart if I had it. I could quite easily have gotten away with just sending a covering letter stating that I'd lost both. or just send the counterpart back so you still have the card to use as ID.
 
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