Expired driving licences will be automatically extended by 11 months

Expired driving licenses will remain valid for almost a year after their original end date, the DVLA has confirmed.

According to a new update, all driving licenses with a marked expiry date between 1 February and 31 December 2020 have been extended for 11 months.

This means that drivers will not need to renew their licence until they receive a reminder to do so.

The initial extension expired at the end of August – but this has now been further extended right the way through to the end of 2020.

According to the DVLA, the rationale behind the move was to prevent drivers from having to worry about administration costs and extra fees during the pandemic.

In ordinary circumstances, drivers are charged £14 to renew their license online, or £17 by post.

DVLA Chief Executive Julie Lennard said: “Being able to drive is a lifeline for millions of people and this further extension will ensure that in these continued uncertain times, drivers don’t need to worry about the admin or the associated costs with renewing their licences.

“The temporary extension is automatic, and drivers do not need to do anything.

Ms Lennard added: “Drivers who have already applied to renew their photocard driving licence or entitlement to drive can usually carry on driving while we process their application, providing they have not been told by their doctor or optician that they should not drive.”

The extension applies to full driving licences, not provisional driving licences.

The government also states: “If a driver applies to DVLA to renew their photocard or their entitlement, they can continue to drive while DVLA is considering their application, providing they have not been told by their doctor or optician that they should not drive.”

Further information is available on the government website.