13th October, 2021

Drivers could be at risk of a £1,000 fine if they forget to renew their licences after the DVLA’s amnesty on renewals ended.

During lockdown last year the DVLA said all licences that were due to expire between February 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 would be granted an 11 month extension.

But that extension started from the day the licence expired, so those that were due for renewal last year will now have to update their documents.

If your licence expired in November 2020 then you have until October 2021 to get it updated.
Licences that went out of date in October last year have already passed their renewal date.
However, if your licence expires while your application is being processed you may be able to continue driving while your application is processed, as long as you are fit and healthy and a doctor or optician hasn’t told you not to drive for any reason.

Under Section 99 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, you can be fined immediately if your licence is not up to date.

This includes having an out of date photocard, address and correct name.

All photocards must be renewed every ten years and you can find the deadline for this on your licence itself.

It costs £14 to renew your photocard (£17 by post) and you can check if yours is out of date in section 4b on your driving licence.

If you’ve recently changed your name or your address is inaccurate, you could also run the risk of a substantial fine if you’re stopped by the police.

However, you can make these changes for free online or by post.

For more information – or to renew your licence - visit the DVLA’s website*.

It is important to remember that not only could you face a substantial fine if you are caught driving with an expired driving license – it could also invalidate your motor insurance.

* By clicking this link, you will be redirected to away from our website.

** Please note that the above information has been gathered through secondary research. The information provided is not based on our opinion. You should seek further guidance and information before making an informed decision.