Drivers over 70 ‘won’t be legally allowed to drive’ if they don’t follow simple DVLA rule

If you’re over 70, there’s an important driving rule you need to know about – one that could accidentally take you off the road if you’re not careful. Unlike younger drivers who only have to renew their license every 10 years, once you hit 70 you’ve got to renew it every 3 years. And here’s the catch – if you forget to renew, you’re technically driving illegally the moment your license expires.

This isn’t just some minor paperwork issue. Driving without a valid license means you could be hit with big problems:
– The police could give you a fine up to £1,000
– You’ll get penalty points on your license (between 3-6)
– Your car insurance becomes completely invalid
– In worst cases, officers might even take your car away

What makes this especially tough is that your car insurance won’t cover you if you have an accident with an expired license. Even if it’s not your fault, you could be left paying for everything out of pocket. And if you collect 12 penalty points from any driving offenses, you’ll automatically lose your license completely.

The good news? Renewing is actually pretty easy. Most people can do it online through the government website in just a few minutes. If you’re not comfortable with computers, you can fill out a paper form – the DVLA usually sends this to you about 3 months before your 70th birthday. You can also pick up the form at your local post office.

This rule catches many people by surprise because it changes from every 10 years to every 3 years at age 70. It’s one of those things that’s easy to forget but can cause really serious consequences. For older drivers who rely on their cars for independence, staying on top of this renewal could mean the difference between keeping your freedom to drive or suddenly finding yourself without wheels. The key is to mark your calendar or set a reminder so you don’t let that expiration date sneak up on you.