Drivers have been warned to make sure they check their licences, as they could have missed an important update that could see them caught out by a hefty fine.
Photocard licences must be renewed every 10 years, to ensure that the photo is a recent and true likeness of the driver. The gov.uk website warns that if drivers fail to renew their licence, they will be breaking the law and risk a fine of up to £1,000.
However, it appears that some drivers are unaware that their licence may have expired recently. According to figures obtained by PA from the DVLA, 926,000 people in the UK held photocards on September 3 which became out of date in the past 12 months leading up to the end of August.
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The figure represents two percent of all drivers. The DVLA said that it writes to motorists 56 days before their licence expires to remind them to renew their picture - however, many drivers miss out on these letters as they fail to update the agency when they move address.
Renewing your licence late won’t lead to a fine, and you can continue to drive with an expired licence as long as the DVLA is processing a renewal application. But failing to return an expired licence to the DVLA is an offence under the Road Traffic Act of 1988, which can see people slapped with a fine.
A DVLA spokeswoman said: “We encourage customers to use gov.uk as applying online is the quickest and cheapest way to renew their photocard driving licence. If you stop driving altogether, you should inform the DVLA and return your licence rather than keeping it as a form of out of date photo ID.”
Applications to renew your photocard licence cost £14 and are usually processed within five days. Third party websites charge additional fees. Postal renewals cost £17, while doing it at a Post Office has a £21.50 fee.
Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation said: “There are good reasons to keep licences up to date, beyond the basic legal requirement. They are also a widely accepted form of ID and will certainly be required if you are ever stopped by police.
“Renewal also provides an opportunity for people to assess whether they are still fit to drive, and we think there is an argument for linking a compulsory eye test to the process to make sure we all remain safe on the road, though the government should help keep costs as low as possible for motorists. When you do renew, beware of private web sites which offer to help with the application but charge an extra fee for doing so.”
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