How to Renew a Driving Licence That Has Expired

To drive a vehicle legally in the UK, you need a valid driving licence – no surprise there. However, you also need to remember to renew a driving licence every few years. There are a few valid reasons why your driving licence might have expired (you may have been away from the country for a few years, for example), or maybe you simply forgot about it!

If you have let your UK driving licence expire, don’t panic. You can still renew it without too much hassle. This article will tell you everything you need to know to get it done – and get back on the road.

When To Renew a Driving Licence

You can check your driving licence’s expiry date on section 4b of your photocard licence. Either way, know that you must renew it every 10 years. Once you are over the age of 70, that becomes every 3 years. The government will also normally send you a renewal reminder a couple of months before it expires by post, known as a D798 notification. You don’t need this reminder to renew your licence – you can do it when it’s convenient for you, even if the expiry date is still a bit far away.

The old paper driving licence began being phased out in the UK many years ago, in favour of the more modern photocard format. However, if you still have the paper licence, it’s still valid – and has the bonus that you don’t need to renew it in regular intervals. That is, as long as your personal details and address remain accurate, and you are under the age of 70. If any of these things change, then you are required to renew your licence. You will then be given a new photocard licence, which you must renew periodically.

What To Do If Your Driving Licence Expired

The first thing you need to know about renewing your UK driving licence is that you must have a valid UK home address. That means if you are currently living abroad and your UK driving licence is expiring, there really isn’t much you can do about it. However, you can apply to have a new driving licence in your current country of residence, and that will be valid when you visit the UK.

The only other requirement is that you must not be banned from driving in the UK for any reason. If that’s you, consider having our free car valuation instead.

If all you have is your UK driving licence and it expires, you cannot continue to drive until you renew it. The fine if you are caught can go up to £1,000 on top of getting points on your licence. This is why it’s important to keep up with your licence expiry date. If it has expired, then you should look to renew it as soon as possible.

How To Renew a Driving Licence

Renewing a UK driving licence is quite a simple process, and it shouldn’t really matter whether your current licence is expired or not. Essentially, you have three options: you can do it online, by post, or in person at a post office. Each method has its advantages, but not everyone can use all of them, as there are some special conditions and exceptions.

Let’s look at each one in more detail.

Renew a Driving Licence Online

This is the cheapest method. All you need is to live in Great Britain and have a UK passport, but if you are a non-national resident, you can use the document you used to set up your online immigration status. You can’t renew your licence online if your title or name has changed – that has to be done exclusively by post. The cost is £14, which you can pay using your credit or debit card.

You can reuse your passport photo or upload a new one from your device. Also, you will need to mail your old photocard licence to the DVLA once you get your new one. The address will be provided at the end of your application.

Renew a Driving Licence by Post

This is the only method you can use if you need to change your name or title. The address is DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1DH. You will need to Include the following documents:

• a completed D1 form, which you can obtain from any post office that deals with photocard licence renewals,

• a recent passport-type photo,

• your current photocard licence, if applicable,

• a £17 cheque or postal order payable to the DVLA,

• your identity documents, if you changed your name or title.

Renew a Driving Licence Personally At a Post Office

This has to be done at a post office that deals with photocard licence renewals. You can’t use this method if you have changed your name or title, but you can change your address. All you need is your current photocard licence, if you have one, or the D798 letter you received in your post. The total cost is £21.50, which includes the standard £17 DVLA fee plus an extra £4.50 fee to process and handle your application. This price includes a new photo you can have taken at the time.

Your new photocard licence should arrive at the address you provided in about three weeks if it’s done by post or in person, or one week if you did it online. You can continue driving while you wait for your new photocard, all you need is the confirmation that you have applied for it.

Keep in mind that special conditions apply when renewing your driving licence if you are over 70 years of age, have a 5-year bus or lorry licence, or a short-term medical driving licence. Check the DVLA website if you meet any of these conditions.

Conclusion

Renewing an expired driving licence in the UK is an essential process, but not a particularly difficult one. You just need to know the right steps to take. There are different methods available to you, all pretty different with regard to who can apply and what documentation you need to provide. Using this article as a guide, you should know exactly which one applies to you – saving your time and money.