Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Legal Matters => Topic started by: Joe. on September 04, 2013, 06:42:48 PM

Title: Changing name on driving licence in UK? Need help ASAP please
Post by: Joe. on September 04, 2013, 06:42:48 PM
I am legally changing my name and I know afterwards I have to notify all government organisations and the bank etc. When looking into changing my name on my provisional driving licence it says I need to send in my old photocard but the new one can take up to 3 weeks to come through. However, I need my photocard licence for my ID in pubs etc and that's the main reason I got it. Does anybody know if I can still change my name without sending in my old photocard licence or if there is a fast delivery option for my new one? For example, a week rather than 3 weeks? I can't seem to find a link on the GOV or DVLA website for the option of a fast delivery. If anybody has any experience with this or any suggestions it would be very much appreciated.
Title: Re: Changing name on driving licence in UK? Need help ASAP please
Post by: Devlyn on September 04, 2013, 06:52:20 PM
Don't know if this helps, there's something about the DVLA having a separate dept for transgender applicants?

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Category:Documentation_changes
Title: Re: Changing name on driving licence in UK? Need help ASAP please
Post by: Joe. on September 04, 2013, 07:07:29 PM
Cheers Devlyn. I did that originally with my passport, but because I already have a photocard licence I have to send that one back to them so they know that I'm not using it still and therefore using my old name. I have to send in the deed poll with my old photocrd licence so they know it's me etc it's just the issue of not having my photo ID for 3 weeks. I may just phone them tomorrow and ask what my possible options are. I don't mind paying a small fee if it means getting my new licence with my new name quicker than 3 weeks. I just don't want to do anything illegal in any of this or get fined.  :-\
Title: Re: Changing name on driving licence in UK? Need help ASAP please
Post by: AdamMLP on September 04, 2013, 07:13:14 PM
On the website it says:

"If your old licence has been lost, stolen or destroyed, declare this on the form."

So you might be able to get away with pretending that your previous license has been stolen, but they might charge you the £20 replacement fee for a stolen license then.

You still need the D1 form though, and my experience of ordering forms from the DVLA has been terrible, I think it took over two weeks just for the form to arrive, but this was over a year ago, so I can't really remember.  I know that it was long enough for us to assume that it had been lost in the post and requested another one.

Taking your passport with you really isn't ideal, not least because it'll have your birthname in it, but it's just about the only other form of ID a lot of places will accept.  Unless you came to my pub, we're a very trusting lot out here (and know 99% of the people).
Title: Re: Changing name on driving licence in UK? Need help ASAP please
Post by: Joe. on September 04, 2013, 07:18:54 PM
I thought about declaring it as lost, but then it says if I've lost it I must contact the local police and I don't want to get arrested if they find out I'm still using it for ID and get done for fraud. Maybe I'm just panicking too much.

Luckily I have a post office about half an hour walk away that I can go to and get the D1 form so that isn't an issue. They give out loads there and I think they give them out in my localist post office too.

I was thinking about taking my passport as ID but the photo is extremely feminine because it was when I was 14 so it would be harder to hide the photo and the name from other people whereas on my provisional it's a recent photo which I don't mind people seeing as it's easy to hide the name.
Title: Re: Changing name on driving licence in UK? Need help ASAP please
Post by: Jamie D on September 04, 2013, 07:37:15 PM
Quote from: AlexanderC on September 04, 2013, 07:13:14 PM
On the website it says:

"If your old licence has been lost, stolen or destroyed, declare this on the form."

So you might be able to get away with pretending that your previous license has been stolen, but they might charge you the £20 replacement fee for a stolen license then.


Let's not suggest Joey do anything illegal.  A false declaration, if found out, could means fines or gaol (jail).