Martin Lewis Warns UK Drivers To Urgently Check Licence Or Face £1,000 Fine

The money expert has warned motorists that if their photo driving licence is now out of date, they *must* renew it asap, or face paying out.

Drivers were given a renewal amnesty last year because of Coronavirus, and many whose licences were due to run out last year were given an 11 month extension.

But now that time is up, adds Lewis.

On his Money Saving Expert blog, he wrote: "Urgent - check if your photo licence is valid NOW, as the renewal amnesty has ended and you could be fined.

"Many whose licences were due to renew last year got an 11mth extension. But if that's ended for you, or your licence expired after Dec 2020, you MUST renew it or you could face a fine."

Drivers can renew their licences online, by post or in the Post Office, at a cost of £14 or £17, but it must be done immediately, the money expert says.

So, how exactly do you check to see if your licence is out of date?

Lewis advises looking at the photo expiry date on section 4b on the front of the card, which will tell you when yours is about to expire.

The money expert previously warned motorists of the DVLA's extension on his ITV1 show, The Martin Lewis Show.

He told viewers, at the time: "If your photocard lapses between February 1 and August 31, it will add seven months to your licence.

"However, if your licence expires at any point after this, you won't be covered by the extension, so check now."

The DVLA has since updated its extension to drivers whose licences expired between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2020, giving them an automatic 11 month extension.

Once that extension runs out, it's important that drivers renew their licence straightaway.