Good news! Driving licence expiry extension

During July, the EU agreed to grant a 7-month extension to drivers whose photocard licence or entitlement to drive expired between 1 February and 31 August 2020.

The DVLA is pleased to advise that the EU has agreed to increase the catchment period to 31 December 2020 and increase the extension period from 7 months to 11 months. This means that drivers whose photocard or entitlement expires between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2020 now have an 11-month extension from the date of expiry.  Please see table below:

Drivers do not need to take any action as the extension will be automatic. Drivers do not need to renew their licence until they receive a reminder before their extension expires.

If a driver has already applied 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 at www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.

However, drivers do not need to apply to renew until the extension expires – we will write to drivers to remind them to renew when the times comes.

By law, all drivers must ensure they always meet the medical standards for fitness to drive when driving. Information about driving with a medical condition is available on GOV.UK