Motorists are being warned to make sure their driving licences have not expired.
Photocards must be renewed every 10 years to ensure the image is a true likeness of the driver.
Expiry dates are displayed in section 4b on the front of cards.
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.
A spokesman from BigWantsYourCar.com said: “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.
“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.”
Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation added: “There are good reasons to keep licences up to date, beyond the basic legal requirement.
“They are also a widely accepted form of ID and will certainly be required if you are ever stopped by police.
“Renewal also provides an opportunity for people to assess whether they are still fit to drive, and we think there is an argument for linking a compulsory eye test to the process to make sure we all remain safe on the road, though Government should help keep costs as low as possible for motorists.
“When you do renew beware of private web sites which offer to help with the application but charge an extra fee for doing so.”
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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“If you stop driving altogether, you should inform DVLA and return your licence rather keeping it as a form of out of date photo ID.”
