Make sure you check your UK driving licence hasn't expired because you might end up landing yourself with a fine of up to £1,000 due to changes made during the Covid-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic was at its peak last year, the DVLA extended driving licences for 11 months that were due to expire from 1 February to 31 December 2020.
Now these extensions are starting to come to an end and licences are coming due for renewal. All driving licences need to be renewed every 10 years, and if your name or address changes.
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If your driving licence was due to expire last year, you just need to add 11 months to your original expiry date to work out when it needs to be renewed.
Example - your licence was due to expire in October 2020, you'll need to renew it this month.
If it expires in December 2020, renew it by November 2021.
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You must renew your licence as normal if it expires on or after 1 January 2021.
Speaking earlier this year, Martin Lewis warned motorists to check the expiry date on their licence now in light of the changes made during the pandemic.
Speaking on ITV's Martin Lewis Money Show, he said: "Get your driving licences out. Photo driving licences only last 10 years.
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"During the pandemic, if it expired, they gave you an 11-month automatic extension but that has now stopped.
"It's the full B bit on your licence you should be checking
"If it's expired just go and renew it, you won't be fined for renewing it if it's out of date.
"But if you don't sort it out and they keep telling you, the highest fine you could get is £1,000.
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"So it's definitely worth checking that out."
To renew, visit the Gov.uk website.
If you want to renew online, you need:
- a valid UK passport
- to be a resident of Great Britain - there's a different service in Northern Ireland
- to pay £14 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card (there's no fee if you're over 70 or have a medical short period licence)
- addresses of where you've lived over the last three years
- your current driving licence (if you do not have your licence you must say why in your application)
- your National Insurance number (if you know it)
- to not be disqualified from driving
If you don't want to review online, you can go do it at the Post Office, or by posting your application to the DVLA.
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Once you reach 70, you must renew your driving licence every three years.
Featured Image Credit: Alamy