DVLA warns drivers they could be hit with £1000 fine

04 January 2024 , 10:37

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Motorists have been told to check that their driving licences have not expired (Image: Derbyshire Live)

Drivers are being cautioned that they might be breaking the law if they successfully took their driving test before 2014. This is because a vital check needs to be made.

Motorists have been told to check that their driving licences have not expired. Every ten years, photocards need to be renewed to make sure the image actually looks like the driver. Expiry dates are displayed in section 4b on the front of cards. If you fail to return an expired licence to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The punishment is a fine of up to £1,000.

Richard Evans, head of technical services at WeBuyAnyCar told Echo News : “To drive anywhere legally, you must hold a valid driving licence which has the most up to date and correct details of your name, date of birth and full address. If you know your licence is about to expire, or your personal details have changed, it’s crucial you update your licence.

If you fail to return an expired licence to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), it is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"Our research found that almost all (93%) drivers say they’ve seen motoring costs increase over the last 12 months. And with rising costs across the board, drivers should take extra precaution to ensure they aren’t stung with additional charges, like unnecessary fines. If drivers don’t have a valid licence, the DVLA warn you could be fined £1,000 and even risk having your vehicle seized. This will be a much heavier price to pay than the cost of updating your licence which starts from £14.”

Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation added: “There are good reasons to keep licences up to date, beyond the basic legal requirement. They are also a widely accepted form of ID and will certainly be required if you are ever stopped by police. Renewal also provides an opportunity for people to assess whether they are still fit to drive, and we think there is an argument for linking a compulsory eye test to the process to make sure we all remain safe on the road, though Government should help keep costs as low as possible for motorists.

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"When you do renew beware of private web sites which offer to help with the application but charge an extra fee for doing so.” According to the DVLA, people can renew their licence on its official website, which is the cheapest and quickest method.

Applications cost £14 and are usually processed within five days. Third party websites charge additional fees. Postal renewals cost £17, while doing it at a Post Office has a £21.50 fee. A DVLA spokeswoman said: “We encourage customers to use GOV.UK as applying online is the quickest and cheapest way to renew their photocard driving licence. If you stop driving altogether, you should inform DVLA and return your licence rather keeping it as a form of out of date photo ID.”

Charlie Duffield