diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2059faa..8da75c3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -17,4 +17,6 @@ config-*.yaml
 logs/*
 local_archive/
 vk_config*.json
+gd-token.json
+credentials.json
 secrets/*
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/configs/config.py b/configs/config.py
index 063c4d7..0d11467 100644
--- a/configs/config.py
+++ b/configs/config.py
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ class Config:
             gd = secrets["google_drive"]
             self.gd_config = GDConfig(
                 root_folder_id=gd.get("root_folder_id"),
+                oauth_token_filename=gd.get("oauth_token_filename"),
                 service_account=gd.get("service_account", GDConfig.service_account)
             )
 
diff --git a/create_update_test_oauth_token.py b/create_update_test_oauth_token.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65b3086
--- /dev/null
+++ b/create_update_test_oauth_token.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import os.path
+
+from google.auth.transport.requests import Request
+from google.oauth2.credentials import Credentials
+from google_auth_oauthlib.flow import InstalledAppFlow
+from googleapiclient.discovery import build
+from googleapiclient.errors import HttpError
+
+# If creating for first time download the OAuth Client Ids json `credentials.json` from https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials OAuth 2.0 Client IDs
+# add "http://localhost:55192/" to the list of "Authorised redirect URIs"
+# https://davemateer.com/2022/04/28/google-drive-with-python for more information
+
+# You can run this code to get a new token and verify it belongs to the correct user
+# This token will be refresh automatically by the auto-archiver
+
+# Code below from https://developers.google.com/drive/api/quickstart/python
+
+SCOPES = ['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive']
+
+
+def main():
+    token_file = 'gd-token.json'
+    creds = None
+
+    # The file token.json stores the user's access and refresh tokens, and is
+    # created automatically when the authorization flow completes for the first
+    # time.
+    if os.path.exists(token_file):
+        creds = Credentials.from_authorized_user_file(token_file, SCOPES)
+
+    # If there are no (valid) credentials available, let the user log in.
+    if not creds or not creds.valid:
+        if creds and creds.expired and creds.refresh_token:
+            print('Requesting new token')
+            creds.refresh(Request())
+        else:
+            print('First run through so putting up login dialog')
+            # credentials.json downloaded from https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials
+            flow = InstalledAppFlow.from_client_secrets_file('credentials.json', SCOPES)
+            creds = flow.run_local_server(port=55192)
+        # Save the credentials for the next run
+        with open(token_file, 'w') as token:
+            print('Saving new token')
+            token.write(creds.to_json())
+    else:
+        print('Token valid')
+
+    try:
+        service = build('drive', 'v3', credentials=creds)
+
+        # About the user
+        results = service.about().get(fields="*").execute()
+        emailAddress = results['user']['emailAddress']
+        print(emailAddress)
+
+        # Call the Drive v3 API and return some files
+        results = service.files().list(
+            pageSize=10, fields="nextPageToken, files(id, name)").execute()
+        items = results.get('files', [])
+
+        if not items:
+            print('No files found.')
+            return
+        print('Files:')
+        for item in items:
+            print(u'{0} ({1})'.format(item['name'], item['id']))
+
+    except HttpError as error:
+        print(f'An error occurred: {error}')
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/example.config.yaml b/example.config.yaml
index 2cded09..acbe52c 100644
--- a/example.config.yaml
+++ b/example.config.yaml
@@ -18,8 +18,19 @@ secrets:
 
   # needed if you use storage=gd
   google_drive:
-    # local filename can be the same or different file from google_sheets.service_account, defaults to service_account.json
-    service_account: "service_account.json"
+    # To authenticate with google you have two options (1. service account OR 2. OAuth token)
+
+    # 1. service account - storage space will count towards the developer account
+    # filename can be the same or different file from google_sheets.service_account, defaults to "service_account.json"
+    # service_account: "service_account.json"
+
+    # 2. OAuth token  - storage space will count towards the owner of the GDrive folder
+    # (only 1. or 2. - if both specified then this 2. takes precedence)
+    # needs write access on the server so refresh flow works
+    # To get the token, run the file `create_update_test_oauth_token.py`
+    # you can edit that file if you want a different token filename, default is "gd-token.json"
+    oauth_token_filename: "gd-token.json"
+
     root_folder_id: copy XXXX from https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/XXXX
 
   # needed if you use storage=local
diff --git a/storages/gd_storage.py b/storages/gd_storage.py
index d9a11de..933c168 100644
--- a/storages/gd_storage.py
+++ b/storages/gd_storage.py
@@ -8,19 +8,54 @@ from googleapiclient.http import MediaFileUpload
 from google.oauth2 import service_account
 
 
+from google.oauth2.credentials import Credentials
+from google.auth.transport.requests import Request
+
 @dataclass
 class GDConfig:
     root_folder_id: str
-    folder: str = "default"
+    oauth_token_filename: str
     service_account: str = "service_account.json"
-
+    folder: str = "default"
 
 class GDStorage(Storage):
     def __init__(self, config: GDConfig):
         self.folder = config.folder
         self.root_folder_id = config.root_folder_id
-        creds = service_account.Credentials.from_service_account_file(
-            config.service_account, scopes=['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive'])
+        
+        SCOPES=['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive']
+        
+        token_file = config.oauth_token_filename
+        if token_file is not None:
+            """
+            Tokens are refreshed after 1 hour 
+            however keep working for 7 days (tbc)
+            so as long as the job doesn't last for 7 days
+            then this method of refreshing only once per run will work
+            see this link for details on the token
+            https://davemateer.com/2022/04/28/google-drive-with-python#tokens
+            """
+            logger.debug(f'Using GD OAuth token {token_file}')
+            creds = Credentials.from_authorized_user_file(token_file, SCOPES)
+
+            if not creds or not creds.valid:
+                if creds and creds.expired and creds.refresh_token:
+                    logger.debug('Requesting new GD OAuth token')
+                    creds.refresh(Request())
+                else:
+                    raise Exception("Problem with creds - create the token again")
+
+                # Save the credentials for the next run
+                with open(token_file, 'w') as token:
+                    logger.debug('Saving new GD OAuth token')
+                    token.write(creds.to_json())
+            else:
+                logger.debug('GD OAuth Token valid')
+        else:
+            gd_service_account = config.service_account
+            logger.debug(f'Using GD Service Account {gd_service_account}')
+            creds = service_account.Credentials.from_service_account_file(gd_service_account, scopes=SCOPES)
+
         self.service = build('drive', 'v3', credentials=creds)
 
     def get_cdn_url(self, key):
@@ -88,13 +123,18 @@ class GDStorage(Storage):
             return key[1:]
         return key
 
-    def _get_id_from_parent_and_name(self, parent_id: str, name: str, retries: int = 1, sleep_seconds: int = 10, use_mime_type: bool = False, raise_on_missing: bool = True, use_cache=True):
+    # gets the Drive folderID if it is there
+    def _get_id_from_parent_and_name(self, parent_id: str, name: str, retries: int = 1, sleep_seconds: int = 10, use_mime_type: bool = False, raise_on_missing: bool = True, use_cache=False):
         """
         Retrieves the id of a folder or file from its @name and the @parent_id folder
         Optionally does multiple @retries and sleeps @sleep_seconds between them
         If @use_mime_type will restrict search to "mimeType='application/vnd.google-apps.folder'"
         If @raise_on_missing will throw error when not found, or returns None
         Will remember previous calls to avoid duplication if @use_cache
+        DM - caching giving a perf improvement in order of 41s to 46s
+          So I prefer not to use yet, purely as caching notoriously hard in terms of edge cases
+          and pro's don't outweigh cons for me (yet)
+          to be fair I just need to test this and make sure it always runs well!
         Returns the id of the file or folder from its name as a string
         """
         # cache logic
@@ -107,7 +147,7 @@ class GDStorage(Storage):
 
         # API logic
         debug_header: str = f"[searching {name=} in {parent_id=}]"
-        query_string = f"'{parent_id}' in parents and name = '{name}' "
+        query_string = f"'{parent_id}' in parents and name = '{name}' and trashed = false "
         if use_mime_type:
             query_string += f" and mimeType='application/vnd.google-apps.folder' "