Motorists are being warning to ensure their licences are up-to-date or risk being on the road illegally by next August.
A huge 2.5 million motorists will see their driving licence expire before August 31, 2022 – over six percent of the total 40 million licences in operation today, research has revealed.
Number crunchers at Co-op Insurance are now urging drivers not to delay in renewing their licence after obtaining the shock figures from the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
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Equally worrying, the data shows that more than 450,000 driving licences expired during the past year, so a lot of drivers could be at risk of not being authorised to be on UK roads, reports Hull Live.
So researchers at Co-op Insurance are encouraging motorists to check the expiration date on their licence and to act fast if necessary.
Driving Without a Licence is a legal offence and can result in 3-6 penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000. Also, not holding a valid driving licence could lead to an insurance claim being rejected.
Photocard driving licences must be renewed every ten years, and a recent photo must be used.
Paul Evans, head of Co-op Motor Insurance, says: “We’re urging motor vehicle owners to check the expiration date on their driving licence and if it’s due to expire within the next month, to start the renewal process as soon as possible. Driving licences can be renewed online, by post, or in person at most Post Offices.
“Due to last year’s national lockdown, motorists with driving licences which expired between February and December received an automatic 11-month extension to renew their licence.
"However, over 450,000 motorists whose driving licence expired between September 2020 and August 2021 need to be sure they’ve definitely renewed, as they run the risk of facing a serious fine. We’re urging all drivers to check their licence and renew quickly if they need to.”
