Here is the text of a letter I am currently writing to West Yorkshire police – I missed out the bit where my initial application to DVLNI was rejected as my passport was deemed to be damaged (it went through the wash with my driving license) and not good enough for ID – I had to find a birth certificate.  I did point out the same passport was good enough to fly to Spain and London in the previous few weeks.  I guess DVA/DVLNI (they wont even tell you what there called) could not talk to the Passport office just down the road.

Anyway, here’s the letter.

RE FIXED PENALTY NUMBER: C17691656

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have been advised by HMCTS to keep you advised on this matter (see enc. 2).

Following receipt of a fixed penalty notice, I sent my driving license and payment to HMCTS, North East. However, due to the license being damaged and the address being wrong, they were unable to process payment (enc 2).

I then contacted DVLA for a replacement licence. Unfortunately, they cannot issue me with a new license as I now reside in Northern Ireland.

I then applied to DVA (NI)/DVLNI for an exchange license (enc. 3). In an unfortunate, if not ironic turn of events, this application was rejected as the GB license I tried to exchange was “damaged” (see enc. 3).

I have now obtained a D737 letter of entitlement from DVLA and forwarded to DVA (NI) /DVLNI and I am awaiting a new NI driving license to send to HMCTS, who, in this strange world of licensing, will, I believe, issue me with a GB counterfoil to my NI license and put points on this!

Enclosed

1) Correspondence from HMCTS rejecting driving licence,

2) Correspondence from HMCTS advising to contact yourselves and that DVLNI license would be acceptable

3) Acknowledgement of driving licence application (DVA),

4) Rejection of driving license application (DVA),

5) Confirmation of GB Driving license details (DVLA).

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Sincerely

Stuart McLean

I find it pretty bizarre that we event need a driving licence – surely just the number should do!

I recently needed to renew my car tax.  A few years ago I did it over the ‘phone but could find no details of how to do this online or on the ‘phone anywhere on the dvni website or on the renewal form.  So I rang them up.  After a series of options I got through to an operator and asked if I could renew on the phone.

Yes you can!

The magic number for renewing your car tax in Northern Ireland is:

028 7034 1514

You just need your registration number and I direct debit card.

Of course in GB on the DVLA site -

“ You can apply for a new tax disc or, if you intend to take the vehicle off the road,
declare Statutory Off Road Notification, known as SORN, directly over the internet.

You can also use the Vehicle Enquiry service to check what information DVLA holds on its
database about a vehicle.“

I wondered why the number wasn’t on the website so I asked using the online form why the number wasn’t on the site.  Here is the answer I got -

“Thank you for your email.

The number to phone is:-    028 703 41514“

Not exactly an answer to the original question.

I wonder if the DVLNI don’t want people to ring or process online in as it would be more efficient?