DVLA alert as motorists told to visit website or risk £1,000 fine

Drivers have been urged to visit the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website or risk a fine of up to £1,000. The DVLA has encouraged people to make sure they renew their driving licence online.

Motorists should examine the expiry date of their licence to make sure it doesn't run out soon.

This warning comes as data from the DVLA has shown that 2.3 million photocard licences are set to expire in 2025.

On top of this, around 300,000 drivers did not renew their licences last year meaning they could be driving illegally. If you are caught driving with an expired licence you should be fined up to £1,000.

Not only this, but you could also receive points on your licence and have your car seized. In a post made to X, the DVLA said: "Not sure how to renew your licence online?"

It then detailed the vital steps to take:

Visit http://gov.uk/renewdrivinglicence

Make sure you have what you need, including your valid UK passport

Click "start now"

"It's as easy as 1, 2, 3," it said.

How to check if your driving licence is expired

However, you only need to renew your licence if it has expired or is set to expire soon. You can check the expiry date printed on the front of your photocard licence, typically in section 4b.

Licences are valid for 10 years from the date of issue and must be renewed to remain legally valid. Drivers must also keep their licence details up to date - this includes name changes, address changes, and disclosing any medical conditions that could affect your ability to drive.

This can cause significant problems in the event of an accident or insurance claim. If your licence isn't up-to-date, your insurance could be invalid too.

Renewing your licence can be done online via the official DVLA website, at the Post Office, or by post.

The standard renewal cost is £14 online, and you'll need a valid UK passport photo.

If stopped by police while driving with an expired or invalid licence:

• You may be issued a fixed penalty notice on the spot
• Police have the power to seize the vehicle
• Your insurance provider could be notified

Depending on the severity, the case could be referred to court, where the maximum fine is £1,000 and additional points could be added to your record.

There are different licence renewal rules if you are aged 70. You can renew your licence for free if you're 70 or over, or will be 70 in the next 90 days, and:

• Your British licence has expired - or it's going to expire within 90 days
• You're a resident of Great Britain (there's a different service in Northern Ireland)
• You meet the minimum eyesight requirement
• You aren't prevented from driving for any reason

Once you reach 70, you must renew every three years.