Drivers have been warned to check their licences or they could risk facing a fine of up to £1,000.
Almost 30 percent of Brits were unaware that an out-of-date licence could land them a hefty fine, according to the latest research from motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk. Currently, guidelines state drivers must renew their licence every ten years, with drivers who are nearing the end of the period receiving a renewal reminder in the post from the DVLA.
Meanwhile almost a tenth of drivers admitted to not knowing when their licence is due to expire - but the date can be found in section 4b on ID cards. Those who have missed renewal reminders and are carrying an expired licence should refrain from driving until the DVLA have received the completed renewal application.
READ MORE: Parents of devastated kids considering legal action after school announces sudden closure
But drivers with licences which expire while the DVLA is processing their renewal application are fine to continue driving under certain conditions, including not being disqualified from driving. Motorists could also face other licence-related fines, including failing to update their ID when they turn 70, get married or change address.
Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk, Greg Wilson, said: “Anyone who received a new licence in 2014 should prepare to receive their reminder renewal in the post this year. It is important not to ignore this reminder and apply for a renewal as soon as possible to avoid potential fines.
“When it comes to renewing photo licences, there are many other factors which could also cause drivers to face fines, including failure to update a new name, address or not updating their image on a new licence. With 7.5% of those drivers surveyed admitting to driving on the road not knowing they had an invalid licence, now is the time to double check wallets and make sure everything is up to speed, no one wants to risk an expensive fine.”
Here are Quotezone.co.uk’s tips on when to renew your licence:
10 years
You must renew your licence every ten years to ensure all information and your image are up to date. There are a few dates on licence cards, but the expiry date can be found under section 4b.
Drivers should ensure they are aware of their expiry date and should expect to receive notice of renewal if they are coming up to their tenth year of having the same licence card, to avoid being fined. There will be a fee to renew the licence.
Appearance
If you have had your licence for nearly ten years and are due a renewal, one of the things you will have to update is your image. Even if all of the other information on your licence remains the same, the image on your card might not be reflective of how you currently look.
This is why you must submit a brand new image of yourself taken in the last 30 days. Anyone found with an out-of-date image on their new photocard may be fined up to £1,000.
Exchange a paper licence
The renewal push affects all Brits with photocard licences, including those with paper licences. These were issued just before 1998 and remain valid until the holder turns 70 - but these were axed in June 2015.
The same rules are applied to these licences and fines can also be handed out for anyone with out-of-date information.
Getting married
Recently married Brits who are taking on their spouse’s surname will have to apply to change their licence to avoid facing fines. This is the same for anyone else choosing to change their name.
Renewing your licence to update this information is free, even if the same information has been updated a few times. The expiry date on your licence card will remain the same unless the image has been changed.
Change of address
If you have moved house and not informed the DVLA to update your driving licence, your renewal reminder letter will be sent to the wrong house. This could lead to thousands of unaware drivers using an outdated licence card and could lead to hefty fines.
Therefore it is essential for all drivers to update their information as soon as they change address. Updating the address on your licence is also free.
Over 70s
Brits over the age of 70 need to update their licence every three years and will receive renewal reminders more often. Along with the normal documents to prove their key details, over 70s need to provide support from their doctor that they are still able to drive and proof they are currently not banned from driving.
READ NEXT:
