Are you approaching 70? If so, you will need to contact the DVLA to renew your driving licence if you want to carry on driving. Here’s all you need to know about how to renew and stay legal.
All standard full licences will expire at the age of 70. You will need to apply to have it renewed if you want to keep driving. If your licence expires and you fail to apply to have it renewed, you will not be able to carry on driving.
No. The DVLA will contact you 90 days before your 70th birthday. It will send a D46P application, which can be used to renew your licence. You can also use the DVLA’s online system to renew your permit.
It’s important you have the correct address on your licence, or you won’t receive the reminder – plus you’ll be risking a fine of up to £1,000. Find out how to change the address on your driving licence here.
Not at all. The renewal process is relatively simple. You will however need to reach certain standards to be allowed to keep driving. These are as follows.
Eyesight requirement: Like any driver, you will need to meet the minimum eyesight requirement. These include the following standards of vision as defined by the DVLA.
You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.
You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.
You must also have an adequate field of vision – your optician can tell you about this and do a test.
Other standards will apply if you are renewing a licence to drive lorries and buses
Medical conditions: You must inform the DVLA if you are suffering from a range of medical conditions. Some of these could prevent you from getting a new licence. Find out about medical conditions that you must notify the DVLA about.
An example of conditions that the DVLA must be notified about are:
Dementia
Diabetes – if it’s treated by insulin
Parkinson’s disease
Epilepsy
Neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis
Conditions that affects both eyes, or total loss of sight in one eye.
You must tell the DVLA about medical conditions as they develop and not just when you’re attempting to renew your licence.
There’s good news here – unlike most things in life – renewing your licence will be free.
No. It will be swapped for a photocard licence.
If you’ve got a valid passport and internet access, you can apply online and use the photo that’s on your passport for your new photocard. We’ll explain how to apply online below.
The first method is by filling in the D46P form and returning it to the DVLA with your current licence. You can do this up to 90 days before your 70th.
If you have a photocard you will may need to include a passport-style photo – the form will let you know.
If you have a paper licence you will need to fill in the form and return it with your licence and a passport-style photo. This method can take several weeks.
To renew your licence online, you will need the following:
An email address
Addresses of where you’ve lived for the last 3 years
Your National Insurance number (if you know it)
A valid UK passport number (if you want to change the licence photo)
When you have all this to hand, simply head here and make your application.
You can carry on driving while your renewal is processed, if you meet the following criteria as stated by the DVLA:
You have the support of your doctor to continue driving
You had a valid licence
You only drive under the conditions of the previous licence
Your application is less than a year old
Your last licence wasn’t revoked or refused for medical reasons
You’re not currently disqualified
You weren’t disqualified as a high risk offender on or after 1 June 2013
Once you reach the age of 70, you will then have to renew your driving licence every three years!