Drivers aged 70 and over risk paying up to £81 for free DVLA driving licence renewals through unofficial third-party websites, with officials urging motorists to use only the official GOV.UK service.
The RAC has previously warned that “potentially millions of drivers” are at risk of “falling for scammers” and paying a premium for otherwise free services. Licence renewals are completely free for drivers above the age of 70, although some sites charge for the service.
Fake sites look nearly identical
These third-party sites can look almost identical to the real thing and can often appear high up in search results online, making it more complicated for older road users to know where to look. Previous data from the DVLA found that hundreds of older motorists were being caught out, with 803 road users above the age of 70 parting with money to renew a licence in 2021.
Julie Lennard, DVLA Chief Executive, urged road users to only use the official GOV.UK DVLA site when making an application to avoid being affected. She said: “Drivers looking to renew their licence at 70 and over should use our online service which is secure, free of charge, and also the quickest and easiest way to transact with DVLA.
Charges as high as £81
“Customers usually receive their driving licence in just five days. Always remember to always use GOV.UK when using any of DVLA’s many online services.” Third-party sites often claim they can achieve speedier success rates than the official DVLA service, adding administration charges with some set as high as £81.
However, this is often wrong, with applications not processed any faster through these sites than with the official channels. Age UK previously warned: “There's no fee for renewing your driving licence after 70, regardless of whether you renew via the post or online.”
Renewal every three years
“Make sure you go through the official DVLA website if you’re renewing online, as some unofficial websites will try to charge you to renew your licence.” The DVLA also previously posted on social media: “Due to renew your driving licence? Only use GOV.UK and avoid third-party websites which charge a premium.”
Older drivers must renew their driving licence once every three years to stay on the road. This can be done online or through the post, with new photocards usually arriving within three weeks.
