Driving licences and entitlements extended by 11 months

If your driving licence or entitlement to drive is due for renewal in 2020, it will be automatically renewed for 11 months following an announcement from the DVLA today (1 September).

In June, the DVLA granted a seven-month extension for driving licences as it struggled to process renewal applications amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. It was updated to include entitlements to drive in July, which means that drivers renewing a licence when they turn 70 were also included.

Today, the DVLA announced that drivers whose photocard licence or entitlement to drive expires between 1 February and 31 December 2020 have been extended for 11 months from the date of expiry under temporary changes. So, for example, if your licence expires on 1 September 2020, it won't need renewed until 1 August 2021.

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The initial extension expired at the end of August and this has now been further extended to the end of the year. Drivers do not therefore need to apply to renew their licence until they receive a reminder before their extension expires.

DVLA Chief Executive Julie Lennard said: "Being able to drive is a lifeline for millions of people and this further extension will ensure that in these continued uncertain times, drivers don’t need to worry about the admin or the associated costs with renewing their licences.

If you have already applied to renew your photocard or entitlement, you can continue to drive while the DVLA processes your application - providing you have not been told by your doctor or optician that you should not drive.