The DVLA has reminded older motorists, particularly those born before 1956, that they must renew their driving licence every three years once they reach 70. Failure to renew could mean driving illegally, as the normal driving entitlement expires at that age.
The process is free and can be completed online, with a new licence normally arriving within a week. The rule has been in place since 1976, when the Government changed the licensing system so that ordinary driving licences would remain valid until the age of 70 rather than requiring everyone to renew every three years. From 70 onwards, three-yearly renewal was retained because ageing can bring changes in health and fitness which may affect someone's ability to drive safely.
What happens when you turn 70?
The DVLA will normally send a D46P renewal form around 90 days before the driver's 70th birthday. Alternatively, motorists can renew online if they are 70 or over, or within 90 days of their 70th birthday. The online application requires drivers to confirm that they meet the minimum eyesight requirements and are not prevented from driving for another reason. They can also update their licence photograph during the renewal. There is a separate process for Northern Ireland.
The Department for Transport says the renewal process provides a regular reminder for older motorists to consider their health, including eyesight, and to declare any medical conditions which could affect driving.
What older drivers must do
Reaching 70 does not mean an automatic driving ban. But motorists must make sure they:
- Renew their licence at 70 and every three years afterwards.
- Meet the legal eyesight standards.
- Tell the DVLA about medical conditions which could affect their ability to drive.
- Continue to meet those standards between renewals — drivers have an ongoing legal responsibility to be medically fit to drive.
- Wear glasses or contact lenses when required.
- Check that their licence remains valid rather than assuming it automatically continues.
The legal eyesight requirement includes being able to read a number plate from 20 metres and having the required level of visual acuity and field of vision. Drivers who fail to renew cannot simply assume they can carry on driving indefinitely. There are circumstances in which someone can continue driving while a renewal application is being processed, but strict conditions apply, including having had a valid licence and meeting the other requirements set out by the DVLA.
Why eyesight has become a big issue
The three-year renewal system is under fresh scrutiny because of concerns about ageing motorists and deteriorating eyesight. The Government launched a consultation in January 2026 on whether drivers aged 70 and over should be required to take a mandatory eyesight test when renewing their licence. At present, older motorists effectively self-declare that they meet the eyesight standard. The consultation said eyesight deterioration is a common part of ageing and conditions including glaucoma and macular degeneration become more prevalent in later life.
The Government has not yet introduced compulsory eyesight tests. A Department for Transport evidence review published in 2025 found there was relatively little clear UK evidence directly linking visual impairment with collision or casualty risk. However, it found cataracts were clearly associated with significantly higher rates of motor vehicle collisions.
There are nevertheless some striking figures. A 2024 roadside vision screening exercise involving 3,010 drivers and riders found 1.7% failed the number-plate test. The failure rate was substantially higher among the oldest motorists, with 10.2% of drivers aged 81 to 90 failing. Overall, 1.4% of those stopped had their driving licence revoked, including 38 immediate revocations.
The same Government review cites a study of police data by the College of Optometrists which found uncorrected defective eyesight was recorded as a contributory factor in 77% of a large sample of collision reports involving people over 60. However, this figure should be treated cautiously. It comes from a particular sample of police collision reports and does not mean 77% of all crashes involving older people are caused by poor eyesight.
Older drivers and road deaths
Official figures show why the Government is looking closely at older motorists, although they do not establish that eyesight was responsible for those deaths or injuries. In 2024, 115 older car drivers were killed and 1,109 were seriously injured in reported collisions. There were 4,669 casualties among older car drivers in total. Older drivers accounted for around 24% of all car-driver fatalities in 2024, despite making up a much smaller proportion of all drivers. Collisions involving at least one older car driver resulted in 239 deaths and 3,061 serious injuries during the year.
The figures also show that the risk is not simply about causing crashes. Older motorists are more vulnerable to serious injury or death when collisions occur because of the effects of frailty. The Department for Transport says KSI - killed or seriously injured - casualty rates per billion miles are higher for male and female drivers aged 76 and over than for almost every other age group, apart from drivers aged 29 and under. There were around 6.3 million full driving licence holders aged 70 and over in Great Britain in 2025, up 60% from 3.9 million in 2012. Around 2 million over-70s renew their licences each year.
