Money Saving Expert (MSE), led by the consumer champion Martin Lewis, has issued a stark warning for UK drivers. An alarming number of drivers could be facing a £1,000 fine if they fail to check their driving licence's validity this year.
The MSE team is strongly advising motorists to invest a couple of minutes to verify their licence status. In a post on X, MSE cautioned: "Are you one of 2.3 million people whose driving licence will expire this year? You risk a fine of up to £1,000 if your driving licence is out of date! So dig it out and take two minutes to check it – we explain the steps."
MSE's websit has details of how to check if your licence is valid, how and where to renew it, how to ensure you're covered when driving abroad, and what to do if you still have a paper licence.
In particular, the focus should be on the expiry date printed under section 4b on the front of the photocard licence. A licence should be renewed every ten years.
The website added: "According to Co-op Insurance data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), an overwhelming figure of nearly 2.3 million licences is set to expire in 2025". Some of these may already be in the renewal phase.
UK Driving Licence
Drivers can dodge the hefty fine by simply paying £14 online or £17 by post for renewal, an amount signifantly smaller than the threatened penalty. Renewing your licence is a simple process, with MSE sharing three methods for renewal:
The costs mentioned are £14 or £17, but these may be less if you're over a certain age or moving. For those aged 70 or above, driving licence renewal is necessary every three years.
Detail of human hand signing contract
If you're renewing every three years or updating your address or name, this service is free. It's also free for those with a short-term medical licence.
The DVLA will send drivers a reminder to renew their photocard licence. According to the DVLA, you can anticipate receiving your "new licence within a week if you renew online".
However, postal renewals can take up to three weeks. It's advisable to renew four weeks before the expiry date. For medical driving licences, it's recommended to renew 90 days in advance as this is when reminders are dispatched.
Incorrect addresses on photocards could lead to a £1,000 penalty if pulled over by the police. If incorrect, drivers can update their address online via Gov.uk or by post.
This service is free for motorists. There is no restriction on the number of times you can update your licence.
Lastly, ensure your name or gender is accurate on the licence, especially if you have changed your surname after marriage. "Research by insurer Direct Line published back in 2013 found 3% of married women had an out-of-date name on their licence, which bizarrely could also incur a fine of up to £1,000. So if you think you could be affected, check now."
For those needing to update their name or gender, all you need to do is order the 'D1 application for a driving licence' form from the gov.uk website. They can also post it to the DVLA by getting the forms from the post office.
Ensure you send the relevant documents, which are obtainable from the post office. Once again, motorists can do this for free as many times as they wish.
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