Rahul Somvanshi
UK drivers aged 70 and over must renew their driving licences every three years or risk hefty fines, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has warned in its latest reminder campaign.
While most drivers only need to renew their photocard licence once a decade, the rules change significantly at age 70. From this birthday onwards, three-yearly renewal becomes mandatory – a requirement many older motorists remain unaware of.
“Failing to renew an expired licence is against the law and could result in a fine of up to £1,000,” explains the DVLA in its recent social media push. The agency further warns that driving without a valid licence is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988, potentially affecting insurance coverage and leading to prosecution.
The requirement exists primarily to ensure older drivers still meet medical standards for safe driving. Road safety data shows concerning trends, with DVLA figures revealing a 12% increase in people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving at least one older driver between 2004 and 2023.
Elderly drivers have three renewal options, with notable cost differences. Online renewal through the official GOV.UK website is free for over-70s and typically processes within five working days. Postal applications cost £17 using form D46P (sent automatically 90 days before a 70th birthday) or a D1 form from Post Office branches. The Post Office renewal service costs £21.50.
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Drivers must provide addresses from the past three years, National Insurance numbers, and valid UK passport details if updating licence photos. Medical self-declaration forms a crucial part of this process, confirming fitness to drive.
Many older motorists don’t realise they can legally continue driving while awaiting their renewal – but only under specific conditions. Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act allows this if the renewal application is less than a year old, the previous licence remains valid, and the driver meets all medical standards. This provision doesn’t apply if a licence was previously revoked for medical reasons.
An often-overlooked consequence affects drivers of larger vehicles. At 70, entitlements for medium-sized vehicles (C1 category, 3,500kg-7,500kg) and minibuses (D1) expire automatically unless drivers submit additional medical examination reports on form D4, completed by a doctor.
Groups like Age UK and the Older Drivers Forum offer support and valuable self-assessment resources to help elderly motorists evaluate their driving abilities.
The DVLA emphasises that online renewal remains the quickest solution: “We encourage customers to use GOV.UK as applying online is the quickest and cheapest way to renew their photocard driving licence,” said a DVLA spokesperson. If drivers decide to stop driving altogether, they should return their licence to the DVLA rather than keeping it as outdated photo identification.
