A whopping 926,000 people are at risk of a huge £1,000 fine for failing to renew their driving licence, an investigation has found. In the past year, nearly one million drivers' photocard licences have expired, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has said.
As part of a Freedom of Information request, data obtained by the PA news agency revealed 926,000 people with driving licences in Britain had cards on September 3 that expired in the 12 months to the end of August. The figure represents two per cent of all drivers in the country.
Driving licence photocards must be renewed every 10 years. This is to ensure the image of the driver on the card is a true likeness. Should a driver fail to return an expired licence to the DVLA, they could be slapped with a fine of up to £1,000 under the the Road Traffic Act 1988.
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The DVLA says it writes to people 56 days before their licence ends to remind them to renew, but many drivers miss the letters as they do not update the agency when their address changes. Renewing late does not lead to a fine being issued.
The investigation also found a small proportion of the 926,000 are likely to have stopped driving altogether, without properly informing the DVLA.
Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation said: “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. When you do renew beware of private web sites which offer to help with the application but charge an extra fee for doing so.”
Some 2.5 million drivers renewed their photocard after it had expired or within 56 days of the expiry date in the past year. Driving entitlement normally remains until someone reaches 70, after which they must renew their licence every three years to stay on the road.
If a licence expires while the DVLA is processing a renewal application, the person can continue to drive as long as they meet criteria such as following the rules of their previous licence. After a photocard is surrendered, someone who drives without renewing their licence could be prosecuted for driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.
The DVLA advises people to renew on its official website as it is the quickest and cheapest 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.”
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