DVLA grants a seven-month extension for driving licence applications

Drivers with a plastic pink photocard driving licence due to expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 will be granted a seven-month extension from the date of expiry, the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency has confirmed. 

This will help drivers to make necessary journeys without having to obtain a new photograph to renew their licence.

The government agency has been struggling to process requests during the pandemic, stating on its website: ‘It’s taking longer than usual to process driving licence applications because of coronavirus.’

Normally drivers are required to renew their photocard licence every 10 years, and bus and lorry drivers every five years. 

However, lockdown has slowed the DVLA’s capacity to process applications from motorists as – like many businesses – its workforce is mainly operating remotely from home.

Now a new EU regulation has now been introduced which means photocards that expire between 1 February and 31 August 2020 will be automatically extended for a further seven months from the date of expiry.

Therefore, if your driving licence was due to be replaced on 1 July, it does not need to be replaced until 1 January 2021. 

To ensure motorists don’t forget, they will be sent a reminder to renew before their seven month extension ends. 

The extension only applies to photocard renewals after 10 years when a new photo of the driver is required – with renewals costing £14 online, £17 by post or £21 at the Post Office (or free if you’re over 70 years old). 

If a driver’s entitlement to drive is due to expire and a driver wishes to continue to hold a valid licence, they will need to renew this entitlement in the normal way. 

The DVLA’s online services to renew a driving licence entitlement or replace lost or stolen photocards will continue to operate.

This will also be the case for learners who could soon pass their driving test and be eligible for a full licence after tests were cancelled for three months from 20 March due to the virus.

However, with tests – in theory – able to restart on 20 June, driving instructors have said there has been no clear guidance or instruction about when they can return to work safely.

Julie Lennard, chief executive at the agency, said: ‘This extension will make it easier for drivers who need to update their photocard licence with a new photograph. 

‘This means as long as they have a valid licence, drivers will be able to continue to make essential journeys.

‘The extension is automatic so drivers do not need to do anything and will be sent a reminder to renew their photocard before the extension ends.’

This change will be introduced from 4 June 2020.

This is Money has received emails from readers concerned that they have already applied for a licence renewal via post, having sent their expiring licence to the DVLA head office in Swansea though not had it returned.

Failure to update a driving licence can result in a fine of £1,000 and up to six penalty points on a licence. 

We asked a DLVA spokesman to clarify what this would mean for these individuals.

‘The seven month extension will apply whilst we process any paper applications,’ they said.

‘Providing their entitlement to drive is still valid, drivers with a seven-month extension period will not be committing an offence.’

The extension follows the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency’s decision to introduce an MOT test exemption for six months at the end of March to prevent motorists having to drive their cars during lockdown.

Since restrictions of movements have been eased, the motor industry bodies have called for it to be axed over concerns that it could see 1.1million unroadworthy vehicles being since drivers were given the green light last month.