Life is stressful at the best of times, and nothing piles on the pressure like a big move or change. There's always some job that gets forgotten.
Little things such as changing your address on your license after moving house or telling the DVLA you got married might be right at the bottom of your to-do list, but not doing these things could also land you with over £1,000 worth of fines.
Many of these little jobs get overlooked, but in reality they take five minutes to do and could potentially save you money and a criminal record (in the worst cases). The Insurance Factory has put together a list of all the things you might forget to tell the DVLA. You can get more motoring news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more: Seven pre-travel car checks that can save you £7.6k in fines
Change of address
If you have moved and your address no longer matches that of your licence then the DVLA needs to be notified. According to the DVLA, an address change refers to anything from a permanent move to a temporary one, meaning that this also applies to students moving across the country to continue their studies.
However, if the DVLA can still contact you at the permanent address they have on file, then you don’t need to tell them.
Updating the details on your driving licence can be done online and then a new licence will be sent to the recipient within three weeks.
Change in marital status
Motorists are also required to update their licence information if they change marital status. This incudes, marriage, divorce, or being widowed.
Change of vehicle
If you have bought, sold or transferred your vehicle to someone else, you'll need to inform the DVLA. If you have sold or bought your car, van or motorbike from a garage or registered dealership, they usually do this for you. If you would prefer to do it yourself, the DVLA has an online service for this.
Whilst there's no direct penalty for failing to tell the DVLA you've sold your car, it does put you at risk of being held accountable for driving offences committed by the new owner. You also need to tell the DVLA if your vehicle has been scrapped or written off.
If you're no longer using your vehicle
If you know you aren't going to be using your vehicle for a long period of time, you don't have to pay to keep it on the road. By declaring your vehicle as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), you receive a refund for any full months of remaining tax, but you'll have to remember to tax your car before you can drive it again. You'll be fined £80 for not having a SORN.
You can only drive a vehicle with a SORN on a public road to go to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment. You could face court prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 if you use it on the road for any other reason.
Change in medical conditions
Some of the most common conditions that may need to be disclosed include:
- Epilepsy – The DVLA needs to be informed but this doesn’t mean that you'll never be allowed to drive again. For example, a person who has an isolated seizure will qualify for a driving licence if they are free from any further seizures for 6 months, unless there is an underlying factor that may increase the risk of a further seizure, in which case 12 months is required.
- Blackouts, fainting, loss of consciousness – Depending on how often it happens, you’ll need to speak to your doctor and you may need to tell the DVLA.
- Diabetes – This depends on how your condition is being treated and whether you develop diabetes complications making it harder for you to drive. These complications could include things like problems with your eyes or nerve damage.
- Neurological conditions – Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke among others can affect your ability to drive.
If a condition or disability has got worse since you got your licence, then it’s also important to inform the DVLA. You can view the government's full list of conditions here.
If you need to report a health condition, the DVLA will assess the information you provide and decide if you need any special adjustments to your car, whether your licence needs to be shortened to one, two, three or five years. or if you need to give up your licence all together. You could be fined up to £1,000 if you don't declare any medical conditions that impair your driving, and if you’re involved in an accident as a result of your condition then you could be prosecuted.
Change of name or gender
There are plenty of reasons why your registered details have changed, but to not inform the DVLA is breaking the law. You can still drive while you wait for your new documents and the process is free of charge. Just send off your old licence and any supporting documents to your name or gender change.
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA when your name or gender changes.
Changes to your eyesight
To meet the minimum eyesight standards for driving, you must be able to read a car number plate from 20 metres away and have an adequate field of vision. You can wear your glasses or contact lenses if necessary.
If your eyesight begins to deteriorate, you need to inform the DVLA, but it doesn't necessarily mean you'll need to give up your licence. Visual impairments that could affect your ability to drive include age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.
Find out about traffic and travel issues where you live:
