Urgent warning drivers face £1k fine if they forget to check crucial detail on drivers licence

DRIVERS have been warned they face a £1k fine if they forget to check a crucial detail on their driving licence.

Around 926,000 drivers in the UK have licences which expired in September 2022, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) stats show.

Some of those Brits will have failed to renew their licences because they stopped driving all together.

But they could be at risk of a £1k fine if they don’t return their expired licences to the DVLA.

And those who do continue to drive must renew their photocard licences every ten years.

Those over 70 must renew their licences every three years.

Expiry dates are displayed in section 4b on the front of cards.

If you’re caught driving on an expired licence, you could also be slapped with £1k fine.

Philips Gomm, a car expert at RAC, said to The Northern Echo: “There are good reasons to keep licences up to date, beyond the basic legal requirement.

“Renewal also provides an opportunity for people to assess whether they are still fit to drive, and we think there is an argument for linking a compulsory eye test to the process to make sure we all remain safe on the road, though Government should help keep costs as low as possible for motorists.

A DVLA spokesperson said: “We encourage customers to use GOV.UK, as applying online is the quickest and cheapest way to renew their photocard driving licence. If you stop driving altogether, you should inform DVLA and return your licence rather than keeping it as a form of out-of-date photo ID.”