Martin Lewis warns millions of UK drivers of £1,000 fines for 'annoying' £14 rule

Martin Lewis has issued a warning to some 3.6million UK motorists over £1,000 DVLA fines through an 'annoying' £14 rule. That's because the department has noted that an abundance of people are in possession of an expired driving licence - which carries a hefty penalty if caught out.

The most prevalent age group found to hold invalid licences falls between 37 and 46 - with 1.1million offenders noted. Meanwhile, there are 970,000 road users aged 47 to 56 who are flouting the rule.

Martin warned: "It's easy to forget, but a quick check now could save you a fine of up to £1,000 if your photocard has expired. It's an annoying £14 to renew (£17 if you renew by post), but that's a far better option than the fine. There are a few dates printed on the photocard, but the one you need is the photo expiry date printed on section 4b on the front of the card."

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The Star reports that in response to Martin's guidance, Andrew Jervis - CEO of ClickMechanic - said: "Holding a valid and in-date licence is a legal requirement to drive in the UK and helps protect the safety of all road users. Many drivers won't be aware that their documentation has expired and it can be easy to miss an upcoming renewal date.

"However, the fact that there are millions of motorists in the country who do not hold a valid licence shows the scale of the problem is much higher than it should be. These figures act as an important reminder to ensure we keep our documentation up-to-date to avoid falling foul of the law and facing a £1,000 fine."