What Happens if My Driving Licence Has Expired?

It is important that you are aware of when your driving licence expires (or expired), as it is illegal to drive without a valid licence. Although the DVLA may send renewal reminders prior to the expiry date, it is still your responsibility to ensure that your licence remains up-to-date and valid, this includes obtaining renewal forms if necessary. Driving without a valid driving licence can result in a fine of up to £1000, and between three and six penalty points on your licence. Your car can also be seized and crushed. Your motor insurance policy may become void and result in claims not being paid by your insurance company.

Renewing a Driving Licence

Renewing a driving licence is free, unless

• you have been disqualified
• disqualified for drink driving offences
• you revoked your licence

In these circumstances a fee will be applied for a new driving licence and you should check with the Driving and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) for an up-to-date schedule of these charges.

You can renew your driving licence at 70 plus online at the DVLA website, or using the D46P application form. For medical renewals, you need to get the D42 or D48 application forms.

Renewing a Photo Driving Licence

Renewing a Driving Licence that has been Expired for Some Time

If more than two years has passed since your driving licence expired, you may be made to retake your driving test in order to get a new licence. This is especially the case if your licence has expired due to age (driving licences need to be renewed when you reach seventy) or medical reasons. For these, you may also have to pass a medical. In other cases, you can simply apply for a new licence without problem, although the DVLA will often want to know why your licence has been expired for so long.

So Why the Confusion?

At the heart of the confusion is the small print on the tiny credit-card-size photo licence, which is used in conjunction with the paper version.  Just below the driver name on the front of the photocard licence is a series of dates and details - each one numbered.  Number 4b features a date in tiny writing, but no explicit explanation as to what it means.

The date's significance is only explained if the driver turns over the card and reads the key on the back which states that '4b' means 'licence valid to'.
 
Even more confusingly, an adjacent table on the rear of the card sets out how long the driver is registered to hold a licence - that is until his or her 70th birthday.

A total of 25million new-style licences have been issued but - motoring experts say - drivers were never sufficiently warned they would expire after 10 years.