Motorists are being advised they should check that their driving licences are valid after a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) investigation revealed that almost a million licenses have expired and not been renewed.
More than 900,000 people are at risk of a £1,000 fine as photocard licences need to be renewed every 10 years in order to make sure that the photo is a true likeness of the driver.
Normally you will receive a notice from the DVLA to remind you that your licence is about to expire – however, if you have moved address and forgotten to update your address, you may not have received the warning and could have an expired licence.
If you find you have an expired license, don’t panic. You will not be penalised and you can continue driving with an expired licence as long as you have sent in a renewal application.
The the quickest and cheapest way to renew your licence is at gov.uk – it costs £14 and is usually processed within five days.
If you don’t want to do it online, postal licence renewals will cost £17, while the Post Office charges a £21.50 fee.
