DVLA urges elderly drives to make simple change to driving licence renewal

Driving licence: DVLA instructs motorists on how to apply online

The DVLA has urged elderly drivers to make a simple switch when applying for their driving licence renewal this year.

Officials have urged motorists above the age of 70 to try their online service instead of using postal forms.

Earlier this week, The DVLA posted a link to GOV.UK’s ‘due to renew’ page on X, formerly Twitter.

The link takes respondents to an online site which encourages them to use the online tools.

The DVLA admitted only 35 percent of elderly drivers surveyed knew they could renew a driving licence online despite the service being around for four years.

READ MORE Elderly drivers over age of 70 targeted by DVLA in fresh warning to UK motorists

The licensing body then revealed older drivers backed the scheme once they had given it a go.

In a poll. 94 percent of respondents claimed the online service was “easy to very easy” with over 97 percent admitting they would use it again in the future.

The DVLA also stressed around 90 percent of motorists who tried the online portal never went back to using paper forms.

One reason for this is that online applications are a lot quicker compared to using traditional paper forms.

The DVLA has reiterated the online renewal service can be accessed 14 hours a day with a new photocard usually posted within a week.

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In comparison, motorists who use forms can expect their postcards to arrive in around three weeks.

The DVLA said: “Renewing online is easier and quicker than paper – there’s no fiddling about with forms or postage. If you apply online, your licence should arrive within one week.

They added: “Our online service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Three months before your licence is due to expire, we’ll send you a reminder to renew. If you want to change your licence photo, you can do this at the same time as renewing your licence online, if you have a valid UK passport.”

Motorists over the age of 70 must renew their licence every 10 years to stay on the roads.

To renew online, road users will need to hand over some personal information such as their email address and National Insurance Number.

They will also need a valid UK passport to hand and any addresses they have lived in over the past three years.

Motorists must be a resident of Great Britain and cannot be disqualified from driving.

Elderly drivers may be allowed to continue driving while an application is processed as long as they meet certain criteria.

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