- Nearly a quarter (24%) didn’t think they would get caught driving on an expired licence
- The main reasons people drive with an expired licence are they were planning to renew the same day (35%), they missed their renewal reminders (32%), and because they forgot to renew their licence (29%)
- Alarmingly, over 2 million drivers (6%) don’t know when their licence expires or how to renew it
- Over a third of drivers (38%) think there isn’t enough being done to remind people to renew their licence after the 10 year deadline
- Car insurance experts at Confused.com share how to change your details on your licence to ensure motorists are driving legally
Over 3 million1 UK drivers admit to driving with an expired licence, according to new research from car insurance experts at Confused.com.
The research found that over half (51%) of drivers were aware that their licence had expired when they got behind the wheel. Nearly a quarter (24%) were prepared to take the risk because they thought they wouldn’t get caught using an expired licence.
If a driver is caught with an out of date or incorrect driving licence, they could be at risk of a fine up to £1,000, as well as up to 6 penalty points on their licence2. In some cases, repeat offenders could also be banned from driving altogether, with the potential of prosecution.
The main reasons people continued to drive with an expired licence are that they were planning to renew the same day (35%), they missed their renewal reminders (32%), and because they forgot to renew their licence (29%).
Despite the severe consequences, over 2 million3 UK drivers don’t know when their licence expires or how to renew it. Not only is this illegal, but it can lead to further financial consequences for motorists driving in the future.
Over a third (38%) of drivers think that there isn’t enough being done to remind people to renew their licence. And a further 27% say they have never received a renewal reminder at all.
Driving licences are valid for 10 years4 upon getting it. After this point, they should be renewed with an up to date picture for the next 10 years ahead. If a driver changes their address, name, or other personal details, they must inform the DVLA of these changes.
With the excitement of big life milestones like moving house or getting married, many people forget that their licence needs to be updated as a matter of urgency. On average, it took drivers a week to renew their licence - this was the case for 41% of people who moved house and 16% of those who changed their name.
Yet, for 3% of people who moved house and 2% of those who changed their name, it took them over three months to update their driving licence. According to the DVLA5, drivers must renew their licence immediately and there is no grace period.
The research found that it took drivers less than a week (38%) on average to realise that their licence was out of date. Yet, only 1 in 6 (17%) renewed their licence the same day and not all drivers were so quick to do so.
It took drivers less than a week (45%) on average to renew their licence once they realised it expired, but this is still too long in line with the law. A further quarter (25%) of drivers took between one and two weeks to renew, while 1 in 20 (5%) drivers took over a month.
The research reveals the top 5 regions for driving with an expired licence in the UK:
| Region | Percentage of drivers who have driven with an expired licence |
|---|---|
|
Northern Ireland
|
29%
|
|
London
|
19%
|
|
West Midlands
|
12%
|
|
North West
|
9%
|
|
South West
|
6%
|
There are plenty of ways that drivers can check the status of their licence and stay alert to when it expires. For 38% of drivers, they realised their licence had expired when checking it. Over a fifth (21%) received a reminder letter or email, while 12% realised when they were applying for other services.
It’s important for drivers to be aware of the status of their licence and check often. On average, people check their licence every six months (45%). Yet for nearly a fifth (19%) of drivers, they haven’t checked in the past year. And a further 5% have never checked.
The research also reveals that those aged 25–34 are the worst offenders for letting their licence lapse at (21%). That’s compared to just 3% of those aged over 65 who admit to driving with an expired licence.
Men (11%) were also found to be nearly twice as likely to have driven with an expired licence than women (6%).
This is an offence that can have a big impact on drivers, and the consequences can be more severe for repeat offenders. That’s as just under a tenth (7%) received a warning, while 1 in 20 (5%) drivers were issued a fine. Yet 1 in 50 (2%) received a court order, showing that the situation can worsen.
It's crucial for motorists to understand the rules around renewing their driving licence, so they don't end up driving illegally and risking fines, points, or further consequences.
Matt Crole-Rees, motor expert at Confused.com comments:
“Driving is part of many people’s everyday life, so it’s important that people are doing so safely and responsibly both behind the wheel and with the correct documentation.
“It’s concerning to see that many are unaware of the process and even choose to drive with an expired licence. The consequences are severe, so we encourage motorists to check their driving licence at least twice a year to stay on top of any renewal admin.
“If your licence has expired, or is due to expire, renewing it is a simple process. This can be done online, or at the Post Office. If you opt to do this at the Post Office, the process carries a charge of up to £21.50(6) including DVLA fees. The Post office will then send your application electronically, and you can expect your new licence within 3 weeks. If you’ve left it too late, then applying online is your quickest option. You could receive your new licence as quickly as a week.
“Not only do you have to renew after the 10 year mark, but you need to do this when you change your details after any key life events like moving house, changing names, or any other personal details. Remember not to wait until your licence is due to renew it. We’ve highlighted everything you need to know to change your details on your driving licence, to make sure you don’t get caught out and can drive legally on the roads.”
-ENDS-
Unless otherwise stated, research carried out by One Poll on behalf of Confused.com of 2,000 UK drivers conducted between 20th - 22nd July 2026.
1. According to GB Driving Licence data, there are 43,090,145 full driving licence holders in the UK (May 2026). According to the above One Poll survey, 8% of respondents have let their licence expire, or are driving with an invalid licence. 8% of43,090,145= 3,447,211
2. https://www.webuyanycar.com/guides/car-ownership/driving-licence-expired/
3. According to GB Driving Licence data, there are 43,090,145 full driving licence holders in the UK (May 2026). According to the above One Poll survey, 6% of respondents don’t know when their licence expires, or how to renew it. 6% of 43,090,145= 2,585,408
4. https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/renew-driving-licence
5. https://www.gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence
6. https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/renew-driving-licence
Media information
Confused.com press office
chloe.walters@confused.com
katharine.adair@confused.com
pressoffice@confused.com
About Confused.com
Launched in 2002, Confused.com was the UK’s first digital marketplace for car insurance and is one of the leading brands in the sector, generating over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the years to include home insurance, van insurance, motorcycle insurance, and car finance comparison, as well as a number of tools designed to save consumers money.
Confused.com is not an insurance company or lender. It provides an objective and unbiased service. By using cutting-edge technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their decision-making, subsequently finding them great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators. Confused.com is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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