I passed my driving test in Lisburn, NI in February 1979 driving my parents manual Renault 4L. My paper driver licence was sent to the DVLA for replacement to update it to my Rushden address in 2006. It would have been replaced at various times when I changed my address, probably in 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990 and 1996, which would have been paper versions. It was replaced with a photo licence valid from 16-11-06 to 16-11-16, which is my current licence.

I was booking a hired car in Belfast in March this year and was advised by them that my licence was only valid for automatic cars. On contacting the DVLA I received a letter putting the onus to prove the nature of my licence on me. Having contacted the NI office they do not appear to have any records of my test. As you will understand it would be highly unlikely to have learned to drive in an automatic Renault. 4L in 1978, given the limited number of automatic cars in existence at that time. I do not know if Renault even had an automatic model. It seems totally unreasonable that I should have to prove the nature of my licence when it is the DVLA who in the process of replacing my licence have made an administrative error.