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Millions of drivers could be at risk of fines up to £1,000 and penalty points, according to recent analysis.
DVLA figures in October showed that more than 3.6 million motorists had an out of date driving licence photocard, which could lead to severe legal consequences.
In addition to the £1,000 fine, motorists could also face penalties ranging from three to six points on their licence or even a discretionary driving disqualification.
A spokesperson from car retailer, BigWantsYourCar.com, said: “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.”
It is illegal in the UK to get behind the wheel of a vehicle without a valid photocard licence, which must be renewed every ten years.
The DVLA advises people to renew on its official website, where applications cost £14 and are usually processed within five days.
Third party websites may carry additional fees, while postal renewals cost £17, and the Post Office carries a £21.50 fee.
The spokesperson also warned that keeping the wrong address on a licence to benefit from lower insurance costs could lead to complications, both legally and with insurance providers.
They added: “Driving with an invalid licence can lead to severe consequences, especially if an incident occurs and the driver is found uninsured.
“Motorists need to weigh the potential risks of not renewing against the relatively minor inconvenience of keeping their licence up to date.”
A DVLA spokesperson said: “We encourage customers to use GOV.UK as applying online is the quickest and cheapest way to renew their photocard driving licence.
“If you stop driving altogether, you should inform DVLA and return your licence rather keeping it as a form of out of date photo ID.”
