What To Do If You Have Lost Your Driving Licence?

Moving around the city, you can easily witness many incidents of robbery & theft around you which are merely unavoidable. Let’s face it because the future is unpredictable & you never know what’s going to happen. But what would happen in case you have lost your driving licence? Don’t worry, we are here to assist you out through this.

For those of you who have been wondering, how you can get your driving licence back, allow me to help you through this. But before proceeding any further, let’s get to know something about a driving licence.

What is a Driver’s Licence?

A Driving Licence/Driver’s Licence is an authentic document, oftentimes made of plastic that is the same size as a credit card. It enables individuals to operate one or more than one vehicle, like a motorcycle, car, bike, truck, or even a bus.

To procure a driver’s licence, a recipient has to pass a driving test, which is pretty simple in some countries. But, to acquire a licence in the UK, one has to conduct two tests: a driving theory test & a driving test.

Different categories of permits usually exist for various sorts of automobiles, particularly large trucks & passenger vehicles.

Now that we have learned about a driver’s licence, let’s delve a little deeper & learn about its history & how it came into effect.

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Where and how did the Driving Licences come into force?

The narrative starts with Karl Benz, the originator of modern cars, who had numerous complaints lodged against himself for the smell & noise of his Motorwagen. So, he decided to arrange a Genehmigung (permit) from the Grand Ducal authorities to move his vehicle on public roads without anybody whining about it.

Following this tale, mandatory licensing for drivers came into effect from January 1, 1904, after the Motor Car Act 1903 gained approval in the United Kingdom.

The highest qualifying age for obtaining a licence was set at 17 with a maximum of 20 mph, i.e., 23 km/h speed limit.

After reading several details about a driver’s licence, there are still many things left to learn about it. Besides operating a vehicle, let’s look at for what purposes is a licence used.

Accepted for Identification Purposes

Many countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have no identification cards. These countries accept driving licences as identity-proofs. At some places, the non-drivers can apply for identification-only cards that have a similar format to a driving permit. Most of the driving licences are the same size & shape as a credit card- the ID-1 shape & size.

Now that you have made yourself familiar with the concept of a driver’s licence, its history, and the purposes for which it is used, let us proceed towards learning the measures that you can take when you lose your driving licence.

What to do if I lost my Driving Licence?

The first and foremost step to take in case you have lost your licence is to report it to a nearby police station. By complaining about your stolen item, you will prevent others from impersonating you, in case of any theft or murder.

Sometimes people panic when they lose their driving licence & apply for a new one before lodging any complaint or retracing their old one.

Essentially, in the UK, there are essentially two types of licence allotted & these are:

• A paper Licence
• Or, a Photo Card

In order to re-apply for a paper driving licence, you need to have a valid UK passport or any other form of identification providing the location you have resided at for the last three years. Once the application process is completed, you will get your licence within a span of seven days. And that is the quickest way to get yourself a replacement driving licence, in case you have lost one.

In contrast to this, a Photo Card can be replaced by sending your application via post to the DVLA along with a photograph of yours, if you do not have a suitable electronic photo.

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But, what are the alternative ways to apply for a replacement licence? Don’t worry! We’re here to help you out through this.

In case, you don’t want to apply for a driving licence online, you can do it using your phone, providing the fact that none of your details have been changed.
Another way to apply for a replacement licence is to send it off to a post office near your house.

But, is it easy to get a replacement for your driving licence? No, you have to pay a small amount to get a new driving licence. In case your driving licence has been stolen, defaced, or destroyed then it will cost you a￡20.00 to get yourself a new one. You can easily make the payment using your debit/credit card, or a cheque if you’re sending a postal application.

FAQs

1. What should I do if I lost my driving Licence UK?
   If you lose your Driving Licence, it gets stolen, damaged, or destroyed, you have to apply for a replacement.
2. How to get a lost Driving Licence Number?
   To have access to all your Licence details & records, you can call DVLA at Swansea. They will send you all the information to your last registered address.
3. How much do you pay for a lost Driving Licence?
   If your Driving Licence has been lost, it will cost you ￡20.00 to get a replacement. The payment can be made using a debit/credit card, in case you’re applying online. And if you’re sending a postal application, you can make the payment using a cheque made payable to the DVLA.
4. Where to report for a lost Driving Licence?
   You should contact a police station in case you have lost your Driving Licence.
5. What happens if I lose my Licence and continue to drive?
   When your licence is suspended or disqualified, your licence is no longer valid. Hence, you must not drive. But, if you’re continuing to do that, you’re committing a criminal offense. If you’re found to be driving while being suspended or disqualified, you have to face up to 6 months imprisonment or in extreme cases, 2 years imprisonment.
6. How much is a driving test in the UK?
   A driving theory test costs around ￡23 for cars, and the driving test for the same costs around￡62. You can book your theory & driving tests through GOV.UK.
7. Can you drive while waiting for a replacement licence in the UK?
   If your licence has expired, you can drive as soon as you send your application to the DVLA and a correct & complete application has been received by them. But, you must only drive vehicles you have applied for on your current application & were entitled to drive according to your previous licence.
8. What medical conditions can stop you from driving?
   Several conditions can affect your ability to drive safely. These are:
   Heart Conditions
   Stroke or Mini Stroke
   Diabetes
   Physical disability
   Brain Condition or Severe Head Injury
   Visual Impairment
   Epilepsy
9. What happens if my driving licence is out of date?
   You are required to change your Driving Licence after every two years in the UK. And, if more than two years have passed, you are now made to retake the driving licence to get yourself a new licence.
10. How long can you drive around with an expired Driving Licence?
    A grace period of 60 days is granted after the expiration of your driving licence for renewal and your licence is valid during this time. Renewal of licence may occur from 60 days before expiration to 3 years after date, and after this, the applicant is required to take the theory & driving test and pass the examination.

So, this was brief information on how to replace your lost driving licence. And, if you have any other questions, let us know in the comments section below.