DVLA warning issued for millions of drivers over 70 – what to do or risk £1,000 fine

It impacts millions of people

Millions of drivers over 70 have been issued an imperative warning by the DVLA regarding licence renewals. Motorists born in 1955 or earlier should heed this call as the time to update their licences is pressing.

The DVLA conveyed the message through social media channels, pointing out: “If you’re 70 or over, you need to renew your driving licence every 3 years. Do it online – you’ll get your new licence within a week!”.

For those ready to start the renewal process, directions have been given: “Get started by going to gov.uk/renewat70”. In the alternative text accompanying the message, key reminders were added: “renew every 3 years” and “renew if you’re 70 or over.”

The Royal Mail branch finder tool proves useful for finding local services offering DVLA photocard renewal, with the method being simply to ‘Filter services’, ticking ‘Driving’, followed by selecting ‘DVLA Photocard Renewal’. If the service isn’t available at your nearest branch, it will direct you to the nearest five branches where it can be done.

It’s important to note that while some branches allow walk-ins, others might require a prior appointment. The Post Office advises directly contacting your branch to verify the specifics, noting the absence of such details online, reports Birmingham Live.

In cases where a renewal reminder hasn’t arrived, your renewal can still be processed by the Post Office using only your existing photocard licence, on condition that your personal details remain unchanged. The Post Office asserts: “We’ll also capture your signature and even submit a change of address if applicable.”

The DVLA imposes a £17 fee for driving licence renewal. “We’ll just charge a further £4.50 to take your photo, check your application and send it securely to the DVLA. That’s a total of £21.50,” the Post Office further advises.

“We’ll electronically dispatch your application, and you should receive your new licence within 3 weeks. We’ll also collect your old driving licence and return it to the DVLA on your behalf,” the postal service adds.

Once you reach the age of 70, you’ll need to renew your driving licence every three years. The DVLA will automatically post you a D46P application form 90 days before your licence is due to expire.

However, if you haven’t received one, you can alternatively use a D1 form available at selected Post Office branches.