DVLA licence warning for motorists who have been driving for more than 10 years
Motorists are being urged by the DVLA to check if their driving licences need renewing. The agency took to social media platform X to remind drivers: "Due to renew your driving licence? Do it online. It's easy, quick and secure to renew on gov.uk."
With photocard driving licences requiring renewal every decade, those who gained a full licence in 2015 or before should verify if theirs is up for renewal. Ahead of a licence's expiration, the DVLA dispatches reminder letters. Applications for renewal can be made on gov.uk for individuals in England, Scotland, and Wales, with a fee of £14.
Payment methods accepted include MasterCard, Visa, Electron, or Delta debit/credit cards. Northern Ireland residents must use the NI direct website for their renewals.
The validity of the new licence commences from the approval date of the application, not the expiry date of the existing licence. Online applicants usually receive their new document within one week, reports Lancs Live.
Post-application, the old photocard licence must be sent to the DVLA, with the specific address provided upon completion of the process.
Alternatively, licence renewal can be done at the Post Office for £21.50. This requires bringing the reminder letter and current licence; without a reminder letter, only the photocard licence is needed.
Alternatively, you can apply by post. To do this, you'll need a 'D1 pack' of forms which you can obtain from a Post Office that deals with DVLA photocard renewals or vehicle tax.
When completing the forms, you must include a recent printed passport-style photo, your current photocard licence if you have one, and a cheque or postal order for £17, made payable to the DVLA.
You will need to send your completed application to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1DH.
If you apply at the Post Office or by post, you should receive your driving licence within three weeks. However, this may take longer if your medical or personal details need to be verified.
You can continue driving while you wait for your new licence to arrive.
Last week, we told how around two million drivers could be slapped with hefty fines and penalty points for not keeping their driving licences up to date, according to recent analysis.
The warning came from car experts at BigWantsYourCar.com, who cautioned that a simple DVLA oversight could leave motorists facing fines of up to £1,000 and potential disqualification.
Recent findings by Confused.com reveal that approximately 6% of UK drivers continue to drive with expired licences, putting them in danger of breaching DVLA rules.
An expired licence isn't just an administrative blunder - it could lead to serious legal repercussions for those who choose to ignore it.
"This isn't a trivial matter. A valid driving licence is a legal requirement, and driving without one leaves motorists exposed to fines and even invalidates their insurance," explained a spokesperson from BigWantsYourCar.com.
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