Urgent warning as 2025 deadline looms for UK drivers who face £1,000 fine

Millions of motorists could be slapped with a £1,000 fine for missing an important DVLA deadline in 2025. Recent data has revealed that a whopping 2.3 million UK driving licences are set to expire in 2025 in a major blow to road users.

Licences typically last for ten years with older motorists above the age of 70 having to renew their photocard every three years by law. Failing to renew a licence in time is a serious issue with road users breaking the law and likely to be heavily penalised. Meanwhile, statistics show that more than 300,000 expired licences from last year are yet to be renewed, meaning a total of 2.6million individuals are now at risk.

Nyo Logan, tyre content manager at Blackcircles, said: “Driving with an expired driving license is a criminal offence, and drivers caught with an expired license could face a fine of up to £1,000.

“The offender can also be given 3-6 penalty points on their license, and have their vehicle seized by police.

“By law, motorists must renew their photocard license every 10 years, so those who were issued with one in 2015 should renew it this year. If you are over 70, you will be sent a renewal notice from the DVLA every three years.”

The DVLA will typically send motorists a reminder letter around 90 days before either driving licence is due to expire.

Motorists can choose to renew online, through the mail or at a local Post Office branch that offers DVLA services.

When applying online, renewing a licence will cost £14, although older road users can access this service free of charge.

Once applied, officials stress that new driving licence photocards will typically arrive within a week.

However, experts stress that road users must remember to send their old photocard driving licence back to the DVLA when they receive a new one. Motoring experts at BigWantsYourCar stressed renewals were vital to keep driver records accurate.

They warned this was especially important for car insurance companies who rely on accurate information to assess risks and therefore costs.

BigWantsYourCar explained: “This isn’t a trivial matter. A valid driving licence is a legal requirement, and driving without one leaves motorists exposed to fines and even invalidates their insurance.

“Remember that renewing a licence is about more than just staying compliant – it’s about protecting yourself financially and legally on the road.”