Drivers with a photocard licence have been warned they could be fined up to £1,000 by the DVLA. Money saving expert Martin Lewis has urged motorists to make sure they aren't found to be driving with a permit which has passed its 10-year expiry date. He has told drivers to check out the '4b' date on the front of the card to check whether it is time to renew.
He said he felt people should get into a routine of having an "annual check up" of their cards they hold in their wallet or purse, and that the check of the driving licences, which are only valid for a decade after they are issued, should be part of that.
He explained in his newsletter: “The cards and products stored in your purse or wallet (even if it’s digital via your phone and watch) are a vivid window on your finances. So each year I like to do an annual check-up of what you’re holstering to see if there’s an easy cash boost." Get stories like this straight to your inbox with our newsletters.
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Those who were issued paper licences before 1998 remain valid until the holder turns 70, however. If you need to renew your photo card, you can do so by post, at the post office, or via the UK Government's official website by clicking here.
To renew online, you need a valid UK passport, to be a resident of Great Britain, to pay £14 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card (there’s no fee if you’re over 70 or have a medical short period licence), addresses of where you’ve lived over the last three years, your current driving licence (if you do not have your licence you must say why in your application), your National Insurance number (if you know it) and to not be disqualified from driving.
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