Check Your Drivers Licence!

[AuntPollyGrey]

Heard this from Martin Lewis . I had no idea your plastic drivers licence has a renewal date. Because of Covid they have extended everyones renewal date by 12 months. I had a look at mine and it ran out in October 2020! There is a fine of up to £1000 if you are found carrying an out of date licence.

To be clear this is just your pink photo card that goes out of date, not your actual licence, which I believe is valid until your 65th Birthday.

[Vagus]

I think it’s your 70th birthday...well, I hope so or I’m illegal :)

[davebro]

I think (?) the photocard lasts for 10 years up until you reach 70 then needs renewing every 3 years.

If you just have a paper licence it doesn't expire until your 70th.

[ummmm]

I didn't know that. My OH keeps my license.

[ToraToraTora]

the photocard licence expires every 10 years so you update the picture. The date is labelled 4b. Just done mine.

[teacake44]

Martin Lewis always over cooks things, yes your driving licence needs to be in order/ correct but I've never heard of anyone having a fine of £1000, not even people who continually offend.

I did read a few weeks back that DVL themselves have been sending out licences that had no end of mistakes on them even though they had been provided with the correct details. So I checked mine, and yes they have on mine it appears I'm a year younger. :0)

[pixie374]

Yes, my sister was a little offended, as mine was valid for 10 years, but hers was only 5 years. We have no idea why.

[THECORBYLOON]

The cards for lorry or bus drivers are valid only for five year.

[davebro]

"So I checked mine, and yes they have on mine it appears I'm a year younger."

Your DoB is also part of your driver number - is that wrong also?

[teacake44]

Its the DOB that's one digit out

[THECORBYLOON]

https://www.drivercheck.co.uk/photocard-driving-licence-explained/

[New Judge]

Martin Lewis's empire makes regular forays into motoring law issues which they declare as "surprising", "little known" or "new laws", none of which is usually true.

They (along with many other sources) made a complete hash of what they called "new speeding laws" in April 2017, when they declared that thousands of drivers face draconian fines and bans for speeding. All that had happened was that there was a slight change to Magistrates' sentencing guidelines for the most serious of the cases which were dealt with in court. There were no new laws, no new procedures and no changes to the fixed penalty system under which the vast majority of speeding offences are dealt with. But it made good copy.

So with this. Photocards have always only been valid for ten years. Very few people are penalised if they fail to renew their photocard. Although the maximum penalty is a fine of £1,000, it is usually dealt with by way of a fixed penalty of £100. The expiry of a photocard does not cancel the licence holders entitlement to drive which, unless restricted for medical reasons, lasts until the holder is 70.

[EdmundD]

According to the DVLA website they are supposed to send a form D46P 90 days before your 70th birthday so you can renew. I never received this. Maybe because of the following:

"If your licence expired between 1 February and 31 December 2020
your driving licence or entitlement to drive in the UK was automatically extended for 11 months. This is because of coronavirus (COVID-19)."

[NeedToKnowPlease]

what do you mean "your actual licence"

[NeedToKnowPlease]

if martin lewis is so good at saving money why is he always writing books or being on the tv about it he should save his money and his time go enjoy early retirement

[douglas9401]

Mr Lewis is an excitable wee soul.
Little call for measured, straightforward info in tabloid telly land.

[davebro]

old story - much wants more!

[AuntPollyGrey]

Vagus -I am no where near 70!

[teacake44]

Edmund 13.38 If then your expiry date fell into those dates , then yes you'res was extended. Regarding them sending you a form 90 days before your licence expires / reminder to renew, don't bank on it. It is still up to you to make sure you have a valid licence.

[eve1974]

Yes I found this out a few years ago when I tried to use licence as a form of ID They wldnt complete the transaction cos photo licence had exp

[AuntPollyGrey]

I got my first 'pink' card in 2013 with a photo on it. Apparently it was illegal in the UK to just have the old paper one -which we wtill have of course.
On the licence it clearly states 'expiry Oct 2020' I will be 63 in June, that is no secret. OH got his 'pink card' at the same time and his expiry date is the same as mine -he is 62.

Hopefully this will explain

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/renew-driving-licence/