Motorists beware: Check your driving licence

More than one in five UK drivers could face a £1,000 fine for driving with an expired licence, a new study suggests.

Research by the car insurance team at Comparethemarket revealed the lack of awareness among motorists regarding the expiration of their driving licence.

More than one in 10 (11.6%) drivers admit they were unaware that their driving licence has an expiry date.

This knowledge gap is even greater among younger drivers, with one in six 17-34-year-olds admitting they were unaware of this.

Nearly a third (32%) of motorists have driven with an expired licence within the last two to five years.

“It’s concerning that our research shows over one in 10 British motorists are unaware that their driving licence has an expiry date,” said Julie Daniels Comparethemarket.

“Continuing to drive with an expired driving licence – knowingly or unknowingly – could land you with a fine of up to £1,000. To avoid serious consequences by having a fraudulent driving licence, it’s vital to renew your licence as soon as it expires.

“Driving licences expire every 10 years, so you should familiarise yourself with the expiry date on your licence and create a reminder to renew it.

“The DVLA will also send you a reminder when your licence is due to expire, so make sure to keep your contact details up to date.”