A new study a team of car insurance experts has revealed what they called "the lack of awareness among motorists regarding the expiration of their driving licence". The comparison service said the "results should serve as a warning", with millions breaking the law and at risk of a fine of up to £1,000.
Comparethemarket said the research found that more than one in 10 drivers (11.6%) admitted they were unaware that their driving licence had an expiry date. This knowledge gap was even greater among younger drivers, with one in six 17 to 34 year olds admitting they were unaware of this.
Nearly a third (32.2%) of drivers admitted to driving with an expired licence within the last two to five years. Further, 29.5% said they had at some point in the past year, while one in five (21.9%) admitted to currently doing so.
More than two fifths (42.9%) of drivers aged 55 and over admitted to driving with an expired licence in the past 12 months, despite the majority of this age group (94.2%) claiming to be aware that their licence has an expiry date.
More than one in six (16.1%) drivers in Nottingham admitted to being unaware that their licence had an expiry date. London and Southampton drivers also appeared to lack awareness, with 13.8% and 12.1%, respectively, admitting to being unaware of their licence's expiration.
The five UK cities least likely to know that their driving licences expire:
City |
% of drivers unaware driving licences expire |
Nottingham |
16.1% |
London |
13.8% |
Southampton |
12.1% |
Sheffield |
11.9% |
Birmingham |
11.8% |
Julie Daniels, from the car insurance team at Comparethemarket, said: “It’s concerning that our research shows over one in 10 British motorists are unaware that their driving licence has an expiry date. Continuing to drive with an expired driving licence – knowingly or unknowingly – could land you with a fine of up to £1,000. To avoid serious consequences by having a fraudulent driving licence, it’s vital to renew your licence as soon as it expires.
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“Driving licences expire every 10 years, so you should familiarise yourself with the expiry date on your licence and create a reminder to renew it. The DVLA will also sends you a reminder when your licence is due to expire, so make sure to keep your contact details up to date.”
