Dvla urges drivers who passed their test before 2016 to act now

THE DVLA HAS ISSUED AN URGENT WARNING TO DRIVERS WHO MAY NEED TO RENEW THEIR PHOTOCARD DRIVING LICENCE AND HAS ADVISED THE PROCESS CAN BE COMPLETED ONLINE NICHOLAS DAWSON 12:54, 27 May 2025

UK motorists are being urged by the DVLA to check their driving licence's expiry date. Should they be due for a renewal, the agency has suggested that this is done via the online

portal. The DVLA took to social media platform X, announcing: "Due to renew your driving licence? Do it online. It's easy, quick and secure to renew on gov.uk." With current

guidelines stipulating that a photocard driving licence must be renewed every decade, individuals who obtained their full licence in 2015 or earlier should review whether theirs requires

renewal. Ahead of a licence’s expiration, the DVLA sends out reminder letters. To update your credentials, go to gov.uk, where renewal costs approximately £14, payable via MasterCard, Visa,

Electron, or Delta debit and credit cards. If caught driving on an expired licence, repercussions could include fines of up to £1,000, points added to your record, or even risk nullifying

insurance, reports the Mirror. Your new licence will take effect from the approval date of your application, not from when the prior one runs out. If you find your licence has lapsed,

it's wise to refrain from driving until the renewal procedure is concluded. WE HAVE A DEDICATED NEWSLETTER FOR CHRONICLELIVE’S MONEY-SAVING AND COST OF LIVING STORIES. IT’S FREE AND YOU

CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT HERE. IT WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST MONEY NEWS AND BUDGETING TIPS AS WELL AS STORIES ON THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS IN OUR REGION. Article

continues below If your licence expires whilst your renewal is being processed, you should be able to carry on driving provided you meet certain criteria, such as not being disqualified from

driving. Those applying online typically receive their new licences within a week. You'll need to return your current photocard to the DVLA, with specific address details given when

you finish your application. Alternatively, some may choose to renew in person at the Post Office, which will cost £21.50. For this method, you'll need to bring along your reminder

letter and current licence, or if you're missing a reminder letter, the photocard alone will suffice for servicing at the Post Office. You can also apply by post using a 'D1

pack' of forms which you can get from any Post Office that handles DVLA photocard renewals or vehicle tax. Article continues below When filling out 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. If you apply at the Post Office or by post, you

should receive your driving licence within three weeks. However, this might take longer if your medical or personal details need to be checked. You can continue driving while you wait for

your new licence to arrive.