Driving licence at 70: free renewal every three years and six rules for driving meanwhile

At 70 a British driving licence stops being a long-life document: it has to be renewed every three years. The good news is that DVLA does this free of charge, and you can apply online.

When can you apply, and who can?

You can apply if you are 70 or over, or will be 70 within the next 90 days. The other conditions: your British licence has expired or expires within 90 days; you are a resident of Great Britain (Northern Ireland has its own service); you meet the minimum eyesight requirement; and you are not prevented from driving for any reason.

Once you reach 70 you must renew every three years — it is not a one-off.

What do you need to apply online?

You sign in to the service; if you do not have sign-in details you can create them. When you sign in you are told whether you need to prove your identity, which usually involves photo ID such as a passport or the licence itself.

You can change the licence photo at the same time as renewing.

The online service cannot be used to renew C1 (medium-sized vehicles) or D1 (minibus) entitlements — those must be done by post. Postal applications are available to everyone using form D46P.

DVLA sends a confirmation email once you have applied. You may be asked to take part in research, and you can opt out.

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Can you drive while DVLA has your licence?

You can, but only if ALL the conditions are met at once. There are seven, and each matters: you have the support of your doctor to continue driving; you had a valid licence; you only drive under the conditions of the previous licence; your application is less than a year old; your last licence was not revoked or refused for medical reasons; you are not currently disqualified; and you were not disqualified as a high risk offender on or after 1 June 2013.

If even one condition fails, you must not drive until the new licence arrives. DVLA sets out the detail in separate guidance, 'Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?'.

What about medical conditions?

The eyesight requirement is part of the application — you must actually meet it, not merely declare it. If you have a condition that could affect your driving, you must tell DVLA separately; GOV.UK lists the conditions with instructions for each.

The reference to your doctor's support in the conditions above is not decorative: in a disputed case your doctor's view is what the position rests on.

How is this different from an ordinary renewal?

Three things: frequency (every three years rather than ten years for the photocard), price (renewal at 70 and over is free), and the fact that you can apply early — up to 90 days before the birthday or the expiry date.

If you live in Northern Ireland the procedure is separate and runs through its own service, not DVLA.