Motorists have been issued a stark warning that they could be barred from driving under a strict, yet not widely known DVLA regulation. Age UK, the charity championing the cause of the elderly, cautions that even if you feel competent behind the wheel, it’s mandatory to renew your licence if you were born before 1954 and then every three years subsequently.
Age UK advises: “When you reach the age of 70, your driving licence expires – but this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop driving. If you want to continue, you just need to renew your licence. You’ll need to renew it every 3 years after that. Renewal is free of charge.”
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The charity continues, clarifying that there’s no need to retake your test once you hit 70, but you must declare any health issues when renewing your licence. For those with certain medical conditions or disabilities, an assessment of driving skills might be required. The DVLA is expected to send out a D46P application form 90 days prior to your 70th birthday.
Age UK also reminds drivers: “Don’t forget to apply for any extra categories of vehicle covered on your old licence if you still want to be able to drive them. There might be extra costs for these but if you don’t apply for these extra categories you’ll only be able to drive a car in future.”, reports Birmingham Live.
Moreover, the charity warns: “If your licence expires and you don’t apply for a new one, you won’t legally be allowed to drive.” They note that postal applications for licence renewal can take up to three weeks, suggesting that online renewal might be a quicker option.
If the DVLA doesn’t provide an application form, you have several options: download a D1 form online and fill it out, order a D1 form online and post it back to the DVLA, visit your local Post Office and ask for a D1 form, or request a driving licence application form directly from the DVLA.
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