Motorists have been warned over a little-known detail on driver’s licences that could catch them off-guard.
It might be too easy to think that once you’ve passed the dreaded theory and driving test you never have to worry about your licence again.
However, those who got their licence before 2015 should pay heed to a warning from the DVLA.
The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency issued a warning to all drivers who passed before 2015 to check one important date on their licences.
And that is the expiry date.
Licences expire after ten years, meaning many pre-2015 licences have already run out or are about to.
As many as 2,000,000 people with an expired licence at the moment are at risk of being fined, MoneySavingExpert.com reported.
The benefits of renewing a licence before outweigh the benefits of being slapped with a hefty fine.
Drivers who don’t renew their licence every decade with an up-to-date picture and fail to return it to the DVLA could be fined up to £1,000 under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Staying on top of it and renewing the licence online costs just £14. They take around five working days to be processed.
It can also be done at the Post Office for £21.50 or as a printable Post renewal for £17.
The expiry date on provisional and full driving licences can be found on the front of the card.
It is in section 4b under the date of issue.
The RAC Foundation advised licence holders who don’t even drive to keep it up to date.
Philip Gomm from the RAC 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.’
The same goes for updating address details, name and date of birth – if any of those have changed you must tell DVLA as soon as possible or risk the fine.
Drivers aged 70 and over must renew their licences every three years.
The RAC has called for linking a compulsory eye test when drivers of all ages renew their licence.
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