Martin Lewis warns 3.6 million drivers face £1,000 DVLA fine due to 'annoying' rule

Martin Lewis, the host of BBC Sounds podcast and ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show, has issued a stern warning to UK drivers. Amidst the ongoing Cost of Living crisis, he cautions that 3.6 million UK motorists are at risk of incurring a £1,000 DVLA driving licence fine.

The DVLA has discovered that over 3.6 million people currently possess an expired driving licence. If caught, these drivers could face a hefty £1,000 fine.

The most common age group for driving without a valid licence falls between 37 and 46 years old. This demographic accounts for 1.1 million offenders, while there are 970,000 drivers aged 47 to 56 who are also breaking the rules.

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Mr Lewis explained: "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.In response to whether St George's Day should be declared a bank holiday in England, he said:"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." Following the warning from the Money Saving Expert star, Andrew Jervis, CEO of ClickMechanic, stated: "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," reports Birmingham Live.

"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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