Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert (MSE) team has issued a reminder as millions of drivers could be at risk of a £1,000 fine. In an update on January 27, 2026, MSE revealed: “Almost 2.3 million driving licences were set to expire last year, with drivers risking a fine of up to £1,000 if they get behind the wheel with one that’s out of date.”
The expert is now urging drivers to act today by checking whether their licence is still valid and, if not, renewing it. Some motorists may even be able to update their details for free.
Renewing late won’t get you fined, but if your licence has expired, the DVLA says you shouldn’t drive until it has received your completed renewal application. Urging people to look at the expiry date and act in plenty of time, it warns: “Photocard licences replaced paper licences in 1998, and must be renewed every 10 years.
“According to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data obtained by Co-op Insurance, almost 2.3 million licences were set to expire last year.”
How to renew your licence
Your driving licence should arrive within a week if you apply online. But there are other ways to apply:
In person at selected post offices. The Post Office charges an extra £4.50 to take your photo on top of the £17 fee, but the £21.50 total also includes posting off your application.
To renew your licence, the DVLA say you must:
- be a resident of Great Britain (there’s a different service in Northern Ireland)
- not be disqualified from driving
You’ll need to apply for your first provisional licence if:
- you’ve never applied for a provisional licence before
- you applied for a provisional licence before 1 March 1973
How much does it cost to renew?
Renewing your driving licence online will cost you £14, or £17 if you send it by post. You should get a reminder and renewal form a few weeks before it runs out. But try and be smart and check the expiry date yourself! Your licence shows a few dates, but the one that counts is in section 4b on the front of the card.
Update it for free
Your photocard licence needs renewing every 10 years, while a standard driving licence usually lasts until you turn 70. After that, you must renew it every three years. Updating your name or address is completely free, as is renewing if you’re over 70, or if you hold a short-term medical licence. There’s no limit to how many times you can make these updates, so there’s really no excuse for letting your details go out of date.
You could face more fines
It’s not just expired licences that can land you in trouble as having the wrong name, address, or gender on your licence can also cost you up to £1,000.The good news? You can update these details for free, as many times as you need.
MSE stress: “Research by insurer Direct Line published back in 2013 found 3% of married women had an out-of-date name on their licence, which bizarrely could also incur a fine of up to £1,000. So if you think you could be affected, check now.”