The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced the commencement of an exercise to phase out the old driver’s licence cards issued before September 2017 from its system.
The DVLA, in a release issued by its management on September 6, 2023, indicated that the old cards will be replaced with smart driver’s licence cards.
The exercise, according to the DVLA, takes effect from now till March 31, 2024, after which all old card driver’s licences shall be rendered invalid by the Authority.
The Authority is thus inviting all holders of the old card driver’s licences to submit them to the nearest DVLA office for verification and replacement.
“The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) wishes to inform the public that, it has commenced an exercise to phase out all Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) card driver’s licence (the old PVC card driver’s licences issued before September 2017) and replace them with the smart card driver’s licence.”
“The Authority is inviting all holders of the PVC card driver’s licences to submit them to the nearest DVLA office for verification and replacement for the smart card driver’s licence. This exercise takes effect from now till March 31, 2024 after which all PVC card driver’s licence shall be rendered invalid by the Authority. This exercise is at no additional cost to the holder,” the statement stressed.
The Authority has cautioned that holders of the PVC card driver’s licences who fail to replace their licences within the specified period will have to reapply and undergo all required tests to obtain a new driver’s licence.
Stating the requirements for replacing the old cards, the DVLA said applicants will have to undergo and pass a mandatory eye test at any DVLA accredited eye test centre and present the driver’s licence in person to the nearest DVLA office for replacement.
“The Authority takes this opportunity to remind all holders of the smart card driver’s licence to check the renewal dates behind their licences and have them renewed when they are due. You can renew your driver’s licence a month ahead of its expiry,” it said.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri