DVLA issues warning to drivers who passed their test in 2014

Did you pass your driving test before 2014? If the answer is yes, you’ll soon need to renew your driving licence.

This reminder comes from the DVLA who have warned that you could face a £1,000 fine if you fail to renew on time.

10 years are nearly up

On 15 February, a tweet by the DVLA reminded drivers to renew their licence.

You must renew your driving licence every 10 years. Renew online today – it’s easy, quick and secure at: https://t.co/8v84eZxCRn

Your licence should arrive within a week if you apply online. pic.twitter.com/muZcPPjq3W

— DVLA (@DVLAgovuk) February 15, 2023

You can check whether your licence is up for renewal by checking the expiry date (which can be seen on line 4b on your licence).

If you don’t renew on time, you could face a £1,000 fine or even have your vehicle seized. You should, as a result, make sure you renew in good time before the expiry date.

If your application is being processed, don’t worry, you can still drive while you’re waiting for your new licence.

How to renew

There are a few ways you can renew your licence.

The cheapest is online, costing you only £14. According to the Government website, to renew your licence 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 3 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

You should then receive your licence a week after applying.

If you can’t renew online for whatever reason, you can do so at the post office, which costs £21.50. You’ll need your renewal reminder letter and photocard licence.

If you’ve changed your name for any reason, you can’t renew your licence this way, and must do it via post – pick up a ‘D1 pack’ from a post office that deals with DVLA photocard renewal or vehicle tax. This will cost you £17.

Thinking of changing your driving licence to automatic only? It could be the right decision. Here’s why.