Is your driving licence still valid?
Photocard driving licences are 11 years old in July 2009!
Did you know that all photocard driving licences need to be updated every ten years? The photograph on the licence is only valid for ten years and hence the licence itself needs to be updated accordingly. This does not mean that drivers have to retake their driving test. Next year we will start to encounter drivers with expired photographs on their driving licences.
In order to raise awareness, the DVLA will prompt drivers with a reminder that their photo is due to expire. When a photo on a photocard licence expires, the licence holder must apply to the DVLA and request that their licence is renewed. The first photographs will expire in July 2008 and reminders will commence in May 2008 onwards.
The licence holder must update their licence before their current photo expires. Failure to do so may result in a fine of up to £1000.
Driving instructors need to think about the implications of this requirement:
- Are your pupil’s licences up to date?
- If you are a PDI, will your licence be up to date when you take your qualifying exam?
- Is your own licence and those of any instructors who work for you up to date?
