DVLA £1k driving licence fine threat to 3.6m UK motorists

Money expert Martin Lewis has warned 3.6 million UK drivers risk a £1,000 DVLA driving licence fine. The ITV The Martin Lewis Money Show star has issued a warning to UK drivers amid the cost of living crisis.

The DVLA has found more than 3.6 million people have an expired driving licence - and if caught drivers can be slapped with a £1,000 fine.

The most common age group for driving without a valid licence is between 37 and 46 - with 1.1m offenders. There's 970,000 drivers aged 47 to 56 which are breaking the rules.

Mr Lewis said: “It's easy to forget, but a quick check now could save you a fine of up to £1,000 if your photocard has expired. It's an annoying £14 to renew (£17 if you renew by post), but that's a far better option than the fine. There are a few dates printed on the photocard, but the one you need is the photo expiry date printed on section 4b on the front of the card.”

Andrew Jervis, chief executive of ClickMechanic, added: “Holding a valid and in-date licence is a legal requirement to drive in the UK and helps protect the safety of all road users. Many drivers won’t be aware that their documentation has expired and it can be easy to miss an upcoming renewal date.

“However, the fact that there are millions of motorists in the country who do not hold a valid licence shows the scale of the problem is much higher than it should be. These figures act as an important reminder to ensure we keep our documentation up-to-date to avoid falling foul of the law and facing a £1,000 fine."

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