The DVLA has warned pensioners that they face a hefty fine if they do not renew their licence. Motorists over the age of 70 need to renew their licence every three years in order to avoid a fine of £1,000.
The government department has advised motorists to use their online system to renew their licence and avoid delays, while also warning people against using other unofficial middle man websites. Get the latest news from across Wales sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletters.
Drivers have been advised that they should only renew their licence directly from the government. While these sites appear to be official and appear high up on online search results, elderly motorists are warned that they could be ripped off if they choose to use them over the DVLA system.
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Even though these sites charge money to transfer renewal application to the DVLA, they are not officially associated with the government agency in any way. These applications are also not guaranteed to be processed any quicker than those made through Gov.uk.
Julie Lennard, DVLA chief executive, said: “Drivers looking to renew their licence at 70 and over should use our online service which is secure, free of charge, and also the quickest and easiest way to transact with DVLA. Customers usually receive their driving licence in just five days. Always remember to always use Gov.uk when using any of DVLA’s many online services.”
Last week, the DVLA has issued another warning to drivers not to share documents associated with their vehicles to avoid losing thousands of pounds. The government department said sharing documents such as the V5C registration logbook could open people up to identity theft, with criminals are looking to steal people's identities before using them to take out loans, order credit cards, or open bank accounts in their name.
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