Drivers warned of big penalties for those who forget this one small admin mistake

DVLA suspends more than 167,000 driving licences for failing to renew them on time in one year

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has suspended more than 167,000 driving licences in the last year because drivers failed to renew them on time.

That is an increase of more than 20,000 on the previous year, and the DVLA is warning that the number of suspensions is likely to rise even further in the future.

The DVLA says that the most common reason for drivers forgetting to renew their licence is because they do not receive a reminder. However, the DVLA is required by law to send a reminder to drivers who are approaching the end of their licence period, so if you do not receive one, you should contact the DVLA as soon as possible.

What happens if your driving licence is suspended?

If your driving licence is suspended, you will not be allowed to drive any vehicles on the road. You will also be fined up to £1,000 and could be given penalty points on your licence.

If you are caught driving with a suspended licence, you could be disqualified from driving for a further period of time.

How to avoid getting your driving licence suspended

The best way to avoid getting your driving licence suspended is to renew it on time. You can do this online, by post or by phone.

If you are not sure when your licence expires, you can check online or contact the DVLA.

The DVLA also offers a reminder service, which will send you a text message or email when your licence is due to expire.

For more information on renewing your driving licence, visit the DVLA website: https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence