Motorists risk paying extra when renewing driving licence for 'exact same DVLA update'

Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 16/12/2025

- 06:00

Britons will pay extra to renew their driving licence when applying at a Post Office

Motorists are being warned they could face expensive charges when renewing their driving licence, depending on which service they choose.

Britons are required to renew their driving licence every 10 years until they turn 70, at which point, they need to renew every three years.


The cheapest option for motorists to renew their driving licence is to apply online, with drivers paying £14.

However, motorists who are not as confident when using technology could opt for a postal renewal at a charge of £17, or £21.50 when renewing at a Post Office branch.

Experts have warned drivers that they risk paying extra for the same service, with some potentially being unaware that cheaper options are available.

Lee Caroline, car expert at LJC Autospares, highlighted that drivers face a 50 per cent jump in price for "the exact same DVLA update".

He added: "The online system is not only the cheapest, it's usually the fastest, but many people who aren't used to renewing online might still default to the Post Office without checking the cost.

"The 10-year cycle catches people out because it's easy to forget about. A simple check now avoids a £1,000 fine for holding an expired licence, as it's treated as an offence under the Road Traffic Act."

Driving licence application

Motorists could be overpaying when they apply for a driving licence

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GETTY

To renew a driving licence, motorists must be residents of Great Britain and not be disqualified from driving.

As with motorists over the age of 70, there are different application procedures for 5-year bus and lorry licences, as well as short-term medical licences.

Mr Caroline noted that an expired photocard licence should be returned to the DVLA to ensure driver records are kept up to date and accurate.

He continued, saying: "Anyone who tries to drive with an expired photocard risks more than a fine.

"If the licence is not valid, the vehicle could also be taken off the road, which makes the small renewal cost far easier to manage than the consequences of leaving it too late."

The expert noted that the renewal process was "straightforward" online, with official systems helping drivers find their details quickly.

Mr Caroline emphasised how the GOV.UK website will reduce the chances of mistakes, which can have a huge impact on the authenticity of the licence if the information is incorrect.

Drivers may soon see a different licence application process rolled out by the Government with the impending launch of digital licences.

Digital driving licence appThe new digital driving licence app is expected to launch in the coming months | DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

While the Government has confirmed that drivers will be able to access their licences through the GOV.UK Wallet, they will not replace physical photocards.

The GOV.UK Wallet will store the digital form of the driving licence, which will allow motorists to prove their age and identity.

A Government spokesperson told GB News: "The GOV.UK Wallet will be launched soon, with the first credential being a Digital Veteran Card.

"Later this year, we plan to begin rolling out an initial digital driving licence, which will eventually be usable for everything your paper licence is currently used for."