More than one million motorists are currently driving illegally and at risk of a £1,000 fine from the DVLA, new figures have shown.

It is illegal in the UK to get behind the wheel of vehicle without a valid photocard licence, which carries a driver’s personal details and must be renewed every ten years.

However, the latest figures from the DVLA show that more than one million motorists currently have a photocard which has expired.

According to recent findings, around 3% of UK drivers continue to drive with expired licences, putting them at risk of breaking DVLA rules.

An expired licence isn’t merely an administrative oversight; it could lead to severe legal consequences for those who choose to ignore it.

The reasons some motorists are failing to renew their licences range from cost concerns to confusion over licence expiry dates.

In some cases, drivers choose to keep an old address on their licence, which could help them secure cheaper insurance rates if their previous location is deemed safer.

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Experts from BigWantsYourCar.com warned: “This isn’t a trivial matter. A valid driving licence is a legal requirement, and driving without one leaves motorists exposed to fines and even invalidates their insurance.

“Remember that renewing a licence is about more than just staying compliant – it’s about protecting yourself financially and legally on the road.”

“Some drivers are reluctant to update their details due to minor costs or misunderstandings about how long their licence is valid.

“But risking fines or insurance issues over these small factors simply isn’t worth it in the long run.

“Driving with an invalid licence can lead to severe consequences, especially if an incident occurs and the driver is found uninsured.

“Motorists need to weigh the potential risks of not renewing against the relatively minor inconvenience of keeping their licence up to date.”

After passing the practical test, drivers receive a photocard licence and a paper counterpart.

The photocard displays a photograph of the driver, as well as personal information such as their name, address and date of birth.

It is valid for ten years and must be renewed with an updated photograph to ensure it remains a realistic likeness.

This helps authorities crack down on impersonation, preventing drivers from taking to the roads who may not meet the required standard of theory knowledge and practical skills.

Failing to return an expired licence to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and can be punished with a fine of up to £1,000.

How to renew your driving licence

The DVLA advises people to renew on its official website as it is the quickest and cheapest method.

Applications cost £14 and are usually processed within five days.

Third party websites charge additional fees.

Postal renewals cost £17, while doing it at a Post Office has a £21.50 fee.

A DVLA spokeswoman said: “We encourage customers to use GOV.UK as applying online is the quickest and cheapest way to renew their photocard driving licence.

“If you stop driving altogether, you should inform DVLA and return your licence rather keeping it as a form of out of date photo ID.”

Mr Jervis added: “It’s quick and easy to renew photocards online, so there really is no excuse for anyone to be taking to the road with an expired licence.

“We all have our part to play in making sure our roads are safe for the benefit of all travellers.”