If you got your driver’s licence before 2015, the DVLA has a message for you and if you don’t listen, it could be costly.
The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency, aka the DVLA, have issued a warning to all drivers to check their licences if they passed before that year, because of a very important reason.
With so many new changes to the rules around driving, it can be a pain to know what exactly is going on.
But this isn’t your average warning from the agency, and it could have dire effects if you were to hop on the road without checking the date on your card.
Advert
You wouldn’t want to get pulled over for something minor to then be asked for your details and be shocked when you’re given a fine, would you?
That’s because it’s to do with your expiry date.
Now, you might know this already, but every driving licence has a 10-year expiry date, which means that if you got your licence before 2015, it’s about to run out, or it already has.
According to MoneySavingExpert.com, there are two million people who have an expired driving licence right now and are due a massive fine for it.
According to the DVLA, your ID needs to be renewed every decade and with an up-to-date picture so that it’s an accurate representation of how you look like as time drags on.
You can’t be running about with an ID of you looked when you were 16 if you’re 60.
If you choose not to do this and you don’t return your expired licence to the DVLA, you could be punished under the Road Traffic Act 1988, which could see you receiving a fine of up to £1,000.
Now, if you don’t know where to look, the expiry date on your licence is displayed in section 4b right on the front of your card.
It’s also a lot cheaper to just renew your licence online for £14 and it’ll be quicker to receive it too as it only takes around five days to process it.
If you don’t have access to a laptop or Wi-Fi, then you can pop down to your local Post Office to complete it for £21.50 or choose to print out the form and complete a Postal renewal for £17.
Richard Evans, at WeBuyAnyCar said to JOE: “To drive anywhere legally, you must hold a valid driving licence which has the most up to date and correct details of your name, date of birth and full address.
"If you know your licence is about to expire, or your personal details have changed, it’s crucial you update your licence.
“If drivers don’t have a valid licence, the DVLA warn you could be fined £1,000 and even risk having your vehicle seized. This will be a much heavier price to pay than the cost of updating your licence which starts from £14.”
Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation chipped in that’s it’s also handy to renew even if you don’t drive.
He 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.”
Britt Jones