However, these licences expire every few years – so it is vital that drivers are aware of the deadline, and renew theirs when they need to.
This guide looks at the process of renewing, how much it will cost, and how long the new driving licence is valid for.
Check your driving licence expiry date
On a UK driving licence photocard, on the front side of it (with the photo of the driver), section 4b shows the expiry date of the licence.
Driving licence codes cover the important information about the driver – and is required to drive and be used as proof of identity.
It is crucial for legal and insurance reasons that all the information on the licence is up to date and correct.
How to renew your licence
The process to renew your driving licence is a simple one that should be done when it has expired or has been lost or stolen.
This is for both full and provisional licences.
First, you will need to visit gov.uk/renew-driving-licence and provide the relevant details.
You’ll need a driver and vehicles account with the Government, or a UK passport. If you do not have either of these, you’ll need to visit a Post Office or apply through the post.
The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will use your email address that is linked to your driving licence to check if you have a driver and vehicles account.
Your new full or provisional licence will be valid from the date your application is approved, not from the expiry date of your current licence.
In order to renew you must be a resident of Great Britian, not be disqualified from driving and some important personal information.
This includes your UK passport, expired driving licence, National Insurance number and the addresses where you have lived in the last three years.
How much does it cost to renew your driving licence?
The cost to renew your driving licence is £14 and will need to be paid using a MasterCard, Visa, Electron, or Delta credit or debit card.
If you are over the age of 70, then it is free to renew your driving licence.
For drivers renewing at a Post Office in person, the cost is £21.50. Applying by post will cost £17, and the D1 packs will be available from the DVLA website.
Your new driving licence will arrive within three weeks.
How long until my driving licence expires?
All driving licences are valid for 10 years – and drivers will receive a reminder from the DVLA when their expiry date is approaching.
Can I drive while waiting for my new driving licence?
According to the DVLA, you can legally drive your vehicle while you are waiting to receive your new, physical driving licence photocard – as long as you’ve received a notification that it has been approved.
This will be via an email to the address associated with your account.
My driving licence is expired - will I be fined if I drive without one?
For drivers in the UK who do not have a valid, and in-date driving licence – getting behind the wheel can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and 3-6 penalty points.
In more extreme cases, the vehicle could be seized, and the offender may be given a driving ban.
Community service and even imprisonment up to six months can be issued to drivers without a valid licence.
The severity of the punishment will depend on a variety of factors, including if they are a repeat offender, if they plead guilty or not, or the result of your driving when they have an out-of-date licence.
Do I need a paper driving licence?
From the 8th June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence in the UK was replaced by an online service with the Driving and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA).
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