June 17, 2022
According to the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), around two million people in the UK have an out of date photocard driving licence, without even realising there was a need to renew it in the first place.
With the potential for a fine of up to £1000 for an outdated licence, it’s vital to check whether yours is valid. Here we share some useful guidance on how to renew your driving licence, and why it’s so important. We’ve also included a link to sign up for official MOT reminders.
There are three crucial things to check to make sure your photocard driving licence is valid:
- Check the expiry date
- Check your address is correct
- Check your name and gender are correct
Has your photocard driving licence expired?
Photocard driving licences must be renewed every ten years, and the photo replaced, regardless of whether your appearance has altered significantly or not.
The DVLA says that it’s important to ensure the police and other enforcement agencies have the best possible photograph to help them correctly identify whether a driving licence is being used fraudulently, and to help prevent driving licence impersonation, keeping disqualified and possibly dangerous drivers off the roads.
The DVLA writes to every driver when their photocard driving licence is due for renewal, providing instructions on how to renew, and the penalty for not doing so. Reminders are generally sent a month before the licence expiry date. For medical driving licences, reminders are issued 90 days before expiry.
How to check if your driving licence is valid?
There are a few dates printed on the driving licence. The one you need is the photocard expiry date printed on section 4b on the front of the card. Check the date, and if it’s expired, you’ll need to renew immediately.
How to renew a photocard driving licence?
- If you have a valid UK passport, you can apply online to renew your driving licence.
- You can apply by post using forms called a ‘D1 pack’ which you can pick up from most post offices, or order from the DVLA website.
- You can also apply in person at selected post offices. You’ll be charged an additional fee to take your photo, on top of the current regular fee, but this does include the post office sending your application to the DVLA on your behalf.
The DVLA says that the new licence should arrive within five days for online renewals. Postal renewals can take up to four weeks.
New licences are valid from the date the renewal is approved, rather than the expiry date of the current licence.
WARNING: If you’re renewing online, make sure you only use the official DVLA website. Sadly, there are a number of copycat websites out there that will happily charge you a premium to renew, sometimes up to five times as much as you would pay directly. These unofficial sites are not authorised by the DVLA.
What if I’m over 70?
Once you reach the age of 70, you will need to renew your driving licence every three years, but it won’t cost you anything.
What if my driving licence has already expired?
Renewing late won’t land you a fine, but if your licence has expired the DVLA says you should avoid driving until it has received your completed renewal application.
Can I drive while waiting for my new licence?
The DVLA says that if your licence expires whilst your renewal application is being processed, you should be able to continue driving, providing you meet certain conditions. These include only driving vehicles you were entitled to drive on your previous licence, not being told by a doctor or optician that you shouldn’t drive, and not being disqualified from driving.
If you are awaiting a medical driving licence because you have declared a medical condition to the DVLA, then you’ll need to ensure you meet the medical standards for fitness to drive before doing so.
Is your address up to date?
Many people forget to update their driving licence when they move home. But if you fail to do so and you are stopped by the police, you could risk a fine of up to £1,000.
You can update your driving licence address online, or by post. There is no limit to how many times you can update your address, and it is free of charge to do so.
The DVLA recently made it possible to change the address on your vehicle log book online too.
Does your driving licence have your correct name and gender?
If you’ve changed your name or gender, you’ll need to update your driving licence. Again, failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £1,000.
To update your name or gender, order the form D1 ‘Application for a driving licence’ online and complete and post it to the DVLA, together with the documents they ask for. You can also pick up the forms you need from most post offices.
As with address updates, there’s no limit to how many times you can update your name, and it is free of charge to do so.
Will the expiry date on my driving licence change if I update my address or name?
If you’re only changing your personal details, the renewal date of your driving licence won’t change. Do note though that if you decide to include a new photo when you update your details, you will have to pay the full renewal fee.
Additional advice for drivers: MOT reminders
Do you tend to lose track of when your MOT is due? You’re not alone. But you can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.
Thankfully, the government has launched a reminder service which you can sign up to for free.
Sign up for free MOT reminders
When you sign up, you’ll get a reminder one month before your car, van or motorcycle MOT is due, or two months before a lorry, bus or larger trailer MOT is due.
All you need to sign up is your vehicle’s registration number; a mobile phone number if you’d prefer text reminders, or an email address if you’d prefer your reminders by email.
Looking for a motor insurance quote?
At Robert Gerrard, we offer helpful expertise and tailored insurance solutions to suit a variety of requirements, including private and fleet cover, together with specialist cover for high value, performance, prestige and collectors’ models.
You are welcome to contact us for a motor insurance quotation that is bespoke to your specific needs.
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According to the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), around two million people in the UK have an out of date photocard driving licence, without even realising there was a need to renew it in the first place.
With the potential for a fine of up to £1000 for an outdated licence, it’s vital to check whether yours is valid. Here we share some useful guidance on how to renew your driving licence, and why it’s so important. We’ve also included a link to sign up for official MOT reminders.
There are three crucial things to check to make sure your photocard driving licence is valid:
- Check the expiry date
- Check your address is correct
- Check your name and gender are correct
Has your photocard driving licence expired?
Photocard driving licences must be renewed every ten years, and the photo replaced, regardless of whether your appearance has altered significantly or not.
The DVLA says that it’s important to ensure the police and other enforcement agencies have the best possible photograph to help them correctly identify whether a driving licence is being used fraudulently, and to help prevent driving licence impersonation, keeping disqualified and possibly dangerous drivers off the roads.
The DVLA writes to every driver when their photocard driving licence is due for renewal, providing instructions on how to renew, and the penalty for not doing so. Reminders are generally sent a month before the licence expiry date. For medical driving licences, reminders are issued 90 days before expiry.
How to check if your driving licence is valid?
There are a few dates printed on the driving licence. The one you need is the photocard expiry date printed on section 4b on the front of the card. Check the date, and if it’s expired, you’ll need to renew immediately.
How to renew a photocard driving licence?
- If you have a valid UK passport, you can apply online to renew your driving licence.
- You can apply by post using forms called a ‘D1 pack’ which you can pick up from most post offices, or order from the DVLA website.
- You can also apply in person at selected post offices. You’ll be charged an additional fee to take your photo, on top of the current regular fee, but this does include the post office sending your application to the DVLA on your behalf.
The DVLA says that the new licence should arrive within five days for online renewals. Postal renewals can take up to four weeks.
New licences are valid from the date the renewal is approved, rather than the expiry date of the current licence.
WARNING: If you’re renewing online, make sure you only use the official DVLA website. Sadly, there are a number of copycat websites out there that will happily charge you a premium to renew, sometimes up to five times as much as you would pay directly. These unofficial sites are not authorised by the DVLA.
What if I’m over 70?
Once you reach the age of 70, you will need to renew your driving licence every three years, but it won’t cost you anything.
What if my driving licence has already expired?
Renewing late won’t land you a fine, but if your licence has expired the DVLA says you should avoid driving until it has received your completed renewal application.
Can I drive while waiting for my new licence?
The DVLA says that if your licence expires whilst your renewal application is being processed, you should be able to continue driving, providing you meet certain conditions. These include only driving vehicles you were entitled to drive on your previous licence, not being told by a doctor or optician that you shouldn’t drive, and not being disqualified from driving.
If you are awaiting a medical driving licence because you have declared a medical condition to the DVLA, then you’ll need to ensure you meet the medical standards for fitness to drive before doing so.
Is your address up to date?
Many people forget to update their driving licence when they move home. But if you fail to do so and you are stopped by the police, you could risk a fine of up to £1,000.
You can update your driving licence address online, or by post. There is no limit to how many times you can update your address, and it is free of charge to do so.
The DVLA recently made it possible to change the address on your vehicle log book online too.
Does your driving licence have your correct name and gender?
If you’ve changed your name or gender, you’ll need to update your driving licence. Again, failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £1,000.
To update your name or gender, order the form D1 ‘Application for a driving licence’ online and complete and post it to the DVLA, together with the documents they ask for. You can also pick up the forms you need from most post offices.
As with address updates, there’s no limit to how many times you can update your name, and it is free of charge to do so.
Will the expiry date on my driving licence change if I update my address or name?
If you’re only changing your personal details, the renewal date of your driving licence won’t change. Do note though that if you decide to include a new photo when you update your details, you will have to pay the full renewal fee.
Additional advice for drivers: MOT reminders
Do you tend to lose track of when your MOT is due? You’re not alone. But you can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.
Thankfully, the government has launched a reminder service which you can sign up to for free.
Sign up for free MOT reminders
When you sign up, you’ll get a reminder one month before your car, van or motorcycle MOT is due, or two months before a lorry, bus or larger trailer MOT is due.
All you need to sign up is your vehicle’s registration number; a mobile phone number if you’d prefer text reminders, or an email address if you’d prefer your reminders by email.
Looking for a motor insurance quote?
At Robert Gerrard, we offer helpful expertise and tailored insurance solutions to suit a variety of requirements, including private and fleet cover, together with specialist cover for high value, performance, prestige and collectors’ models.
You are welcome to contact us for a motor insurance quotation that is bespoke to your specific needs.