Most people will carry their driver’s licence with them, although they rarely need to take it out. However, without checking it occasionally, you might risk having a fine hanging over you.
The plastic licence card replaced paper licences in 1998 and must be renewed every 10 years. Many people will face the prospect of getting a new one this year if it’s close to its expiry date. But it is important to remember that it doesn’t renew automatically, and you need to do it yourself, so remembering is important.
The team at Martin Lewis‘ MoneySavingExpert.com said that this ‘easy to forget’ job comes around once a decade. According to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data obtained by Co-op Insurance, almost 2.3 million licences are set to expire in 2025.
It is illegal to drive without a valid driving license, and this includes driving with an expired license. According to GOV.UK, this offence could lead to a fine of up to £1,000, three to six penalty points on your license and your vehicle could be seized.
Below you can find out what you need to do to avoid that situation. Thankfully, it’s quick, easy and only takes a few simple steps.
You can check if you are close to the expiry date by checking your driving licence card. It should give you a date on the fourth line, with the issue date on 4a and the expiry on 4b.
It costs £14 to renew online at GOV.UK or £17 if you choose to renew via post with a D1 from available from most post offices. You should be sent a reminder and form a few weeks before your licence expires, but as many miss this or forget, it’s worth checking yourself if you know you’ve hit a driving anniversary.
To renew your licence, you must:
The DVLA says you should get your new licence within a week if you renew online. Your new licence will be valid from the date your application is approved, not from the expiry date of your current licence, so don’t leave things too late, or you could end up in trouble.
Renewing late won’t result in a fine. But if your licence has expired, the DVLA insists you shouldn’t drive until it has received your completed renewal application.
You must send your old photocard licence to DVLA when you get your new licence. You’ll be told the address to use when you finish the application.
The 10-year rule does not apply to people over 70 and still driving. Instead, people in this age bracket must renew their license every three years.
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