Drivers warned to check licences to avoid £1,000 fine and six points

UK drivers are being urged to to check their driving licenses to avoid getting hit with a £1,000 fine.

Martin Lewis, founder of consumer website Money Saving Expert, took to his latest newsletter to encourage drivers to not let their photocard license expire, the Liverpool Echo reports.

A sizeable fine of £1,000 could be issued if motorists don't renew their photocard licenses, which must be updated after 10 years.

Motorists also risk having three to six points added to their license if they let it lapse.

The automatic grace period allowed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for drivers whose licenses ran out between February 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 is coming to an end.

UK drivers have been urged to not let their licenses lapsed (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The grace period was allowed by the DVLA due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lewis said: "Driving licence photos must be replaced every 10 years (no matter how young you look).

"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.

"If you don't renew when your automatic extension ends you could be fined up to £1,000 for driving with an expired licence."

A DVLA spokesperson said: "Appearances can change, and it's important that photocard licences are updated every 10 years.

"This is to ensure the police and other enforcement agencies have the best possible photograph to help them correctly identify whether a driving licence is being used fraudulently, and so help prevent driving licence impersonation – stopping disqualified and perhaps dangerous drivers taking to our roads."

The agency estimates as any as two million licences could have expired in the UK.

A fee of £14 needs to be paid by licence holders who renew online at gov.uk.

This rises to £17 by those who complete the process by post and £21.50 for those who renew at the Post Office.

Licences belonging to motorists aged 70 and above must be renewed, free of charge, every three years.

People who need to renew their licence because of a change of detail such as their name or address also do not have to pay.