The money savings team have urged people to do the two second check asap
Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE) team warn that millions of drivers could be at risk of a £1,000 fine. But people can save their bank accounts with a quick check.
Updated on January 27, 2026, it warns: “Almost 2.3 million driving licences were set to expire last year, with drivers risking a fine of up to £1,000 if they get behind the wheel with one that’s out of date.”
Urging people to act now, the experts at MSE say people need to know how to check if their ID is valid and, if not, how to renew it. It also notes that some people can get their ID updated for free.
Act now
Renewing late won’t get you fined, but if your licence has expired, the DVLA says you shouldn’t drive until it has received your completed renewal application. Urging people to look at the expiry date and act in plenty of time, it warns: “Photocard licences replaced paper licences in 1998, and must be renewed every 10 years.
“According to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data obtained by Co-op Insurance, almost 2.3 million licences were set to expire last year.”
How to renew your licence
Your driving licence should arrive within a week if you apply online. But there are other ways to apply:
- Online. You can apply online at Gov.uk, providing you’ve a valid UK passport.
- By post. Alternatively, anyone can get forms (known as ‘D1’) from most post offices, or order them from the DVLA website.
- In person at selected post offices. The Post Office charges an extra £4.50 to take your photo on top of the £17 fee, but the £21.50 total also includes posting off your application.
To renew your licence, the DVLA say you must:
- be a resident of Great Britain (there’s a different service in Northern Ireland)
- not be disqualified from driving
You’ll need to apply for your first provisional licence if:
- you’ve never applied for a provisional licence before
- you applied for a provisional licence before 1 March 1973
How much does it cost?
Renewing your licence online costs £14, or £17 if you apply by post. You should receive a reminder and renewal form a few weeks before it expires.
However, as these can be forgotten, it’s wise to note the expiry date yourself. There are a few dates printed on the licence, so look out for the date in section 4b on the front of the card.
Free update
Your photocard must be renewed every 10 years, as a standard driving licence is generally valid until the age of 70. After that, it must be renewed every 3 years.
Updating your name or address is free, as is renewing your licence if you’re over 70. It’s also free if you hold a short-term medical licence. There’s no limit to how many times you can update your name or address at no cost.
Remember
As well as risking a £1k fine for having an expired licence whilst behind the wheel, the experts also remind drivers that having the wrong gender, name or address printed could also risk the same fine.
Drivers can update these details for free as many times as they need, so there’s no excuse, and a free update is better than a hefty £1k bill.
MSE stress: “Research by insurer Direct Line published back in 2013 found 3% of married women had an out-of-date name on their licence, which bizarrely could also incur a fine of up to £1,000. So if you think you could be affected, check now.”
