As you approach your 70th birthday, it’s important to prepare for the simple yet essential task of renewing your driving licence. But did you know that you’ll need to provide the right identity documents to keep everything running smoothly?
Whether you have a valid UK passport or need to submit alternative documents, the process is straightforward if you know exactly what’s required. Failing to renew on time can result in hefty fines and potential prosecution. So, let’s ensure you’re completely prepared to remain on the road without any delays.
The milestone birthday of 70 not only prompts you to renew your driving licence once, but it’s a task you must be on top of every three years. While this is far more frequent than the standard 10 year renewal, you can still drive while you wait for your renewed documents to come through. There are, however, some exceptions.
You can freely drive if there’s no reason to stop. According to the government, these include:
If you have a valid UK passport, you must only provide your 9-digit passport number on your application form. However, you must submit an identity document by post if you do not have a passport.
You can provide one of the following:
Alternatively, you may submit a UK birth, adoption, or naturalisation certificate, but you must provide additional proof of identity or evidence of receiving a State Pension.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a passport or travel document, you can also send:
If you receive a State Pension, you can provide:
Failing to renew your driving licence on time can lead to serious consequences, including fines of up to £1,000 and potential prosecution. To prevent any issues, you should begin the renewal process as soon as you receive your renewal notice from the DVLA, which is usually sent 90 days before your 70th birthday. By ensuring you have the correct documents prepared, you can complete the renewal process smoothly and continue driving safely and legally.
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