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Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Millions of UK drivers issued £1,000 warning as crucial update due in 2025
UK motorists have been strongly advised to check documentation and ensure their details are up to date to avoid fines, penalty points, invalidated insurance — or even a driving ban Millions of British drivers have been urged to act swiftly or risk being slapped with a hefty driving fine, or even worse, a ban. Recent data reveals a whopping 2.3 million UK driving licences are due to expire in 2025, with more than 300,000 expired licences from last year yet to be renewed, putting millions of motorists at risk of legal and financial repercussions. Driving with an expired licence is a criminal offence in the UK. If caught, motorists can face a fine of up to £1,000 and receive between three and six penalty points on their licence. In more severe cases, such as repeat offences, drivers may be disqualified from driving and their vehicles could be seized by the police. Insurance companies may also decline any claims made while driving with an invalid licence, which could leave drivers liable for significant financial losses — according to Co-op Insurance, some claims in 2024 reached up to £42,000. Tyre content manager at Blackcircles, Nyo Logan, explained: "Driving with an expired driving license is a criminal offence, and drivers caught with an expired license could face a fine of up to £1,000. The offender can also be given 3-6 penalty points on their license, and have their vehicle seized by police. "By law, motorists must renew their photocard license every 10 years, so those who were issued with one in 2015 should renew it this year. If you are over 70, you will be sent a renewal notice from the DVLA every three years. "On a photo driving licence, the expiry date can be found in section 4b on the front of the card. This is the side that has the photo of the driver." There are several ways to renew a driving licence in the UK: Online: If you have a UK passport, you can renew your licence online via the official government website: By post: Obtain a 'D1' form from your local Post Office, or download it from the government website — — and then send it to the DVLA Post Office: Some Post Office branches allow you to renew your licence in person for a fee, typically around £21.50. Bring your existing photocard licence for verification. Renewing online is often the quickest and most convenient method. The process generally takes up to three weeks, though it can sometimes be longer. Drivers aged over 70 or those with certain medical conditions may be eligible to renew for free. The DVLA posted on X (formerly Twitter): "Due to renew your driving licence? Do it online. It's easy, quick and secure to renew on Your driving licence must always reflect your current legal name and address. Failing to update these details can also result in a fine of up to £1,000 and invalidate your licence. If you change your name or move house, you must notify the DVLA and update your licence and vehicle log book (V5C) within a few weeks. There is no fee for updating your name or address and you can do so as often as needed. To change your name, gender or address, order the 'D1 application for a driving licence' form from the website. Medical conditions can also affect your eligibility to drive. You are legally required to inform the DVLA if you develop a 'notifiable' medical condition, or if an existing condition worsens. These include epilepsy, sleep apnoea, glaucoma and heart problems, as well as anything that could impact your ability to drive safely. If your doctor advises you to stop driving for three months or more due to a medical issue, you must surrender your licence to the DVLA. You can reapply for your licence once you meet the required medical standards. With millions of licences set to expire this year, UK motorists are strongly encouraged to check their licence expiry dates and ensure their details are up to date by experts and the DVLA to avoid fines, penalty points, invalidated insurance — and even being banned from driving altogether.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway has Scotland's highest rate of illegal tyre-related accidents
Research by online tyre retailer Blackcircles has revealed the areas with the most road accidents due to defective illegal, defective and under-inflated tyres. Dumfries and Galloway has the highest rate of illegal tyre-related accidents in Scotland. Research by online tyre retailer Blackcircles has revealed the areas with the most road accidents due to defective illegal, defective and under-inflated tyres. In Dumfries and Galloway, there were 10 between 2019-2023 – a rate of 6.86 per 100,000 people. And that gives it the highest rate among Scotland's council areas and the fourth highest in the UK. With Dumfries and Galloway having a population just under 150,000, the number of accidents could be down to number and length of key roads such as the M74, A75 and A77. The research also revealed the 10 accidents were among 19 collisions where vehicle defects had been found. And faulty brakes were the leading cause of vehicle collisions across the UK, accounting for nearly two-fifths of accidents. tyre expert, James Harding, is urging drivers to check their tyres before they too have an accident. He said: 'Tyres are the only part of your vehicle that make contact with the road, so their condition has a significant impact on your safety. 'Worn, damaged, or underinflated tyres can increase braking distances, reduce grip, and raise the risk of blowouts - especially in poor weather. 'Illegal, defective, or underinflated tyres contribute to hundreds of UK road collisions yearly. They can also result in fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre if found to be below legal standards.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scotsman
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Edinburgh traffic: Where Edinburgh ranks as UK's 10 cities with most roadworks named
The UK cities with the longest duration of road closures in 2024 have been named – and Edinburgh residents won't be surprised that Scotland's capital occupies a lofty position on the list. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It comes after experts at online tyre retailer, Blackcircles, sent Freedom of Information requests to UK local authorities to determine which areas had the most roadworks in 2024, the total number of road closures due to roadworks and the duration of each roadwork project carried out. Once the information was obrained, Blackcircles compiled a Top 10, which you can see below. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aberdeen is top for the local authorities with the longest road closures. Last year, road closures lasted for an average of 93 calendar days. The longest road works in the area are each expected to finish after around 365 calendar days. Newcastle upon Tyne is second among local authorities with the longest road closures. This is surprising given that during 2024, the local council reported just two road closures per 10,000. Yet, despite this, road closures lasted an average of 88 calendar days. The longest-running road closure in the area took around 548 calendar days. In third place, Edinburgh, which, on average, had roads closed for around 59 calendar days. The longest road closure in the area was on South St David Street, which will last around 547 calendar days, and is expected to end later in 2025. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Outside of London, Liverpool is the UK city where motorists face the most roadworks. In 2024, 31,765 roadworks were carried out in the northwest city, which is equivalent to 631 per 10,000 people. Blackpool is the UK area with the fewest number of roadworks. In 2024, 41 roadworks were carried out, which equates to 3 per 10,000 people. In 2024, Birmingham City Council closed 10,463 roads to carry out maintenance. This is equivalent to 90 per 10,000 people, higher than any other local authority. Edinburgh tops the list of UK areas with the highest average duration of roadworks. In 2024, the average duration of maintenance projects in the Scottish capital lasted for 80 calendar days. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad You can view the full research again here – UK areas with the longest duration of road closures: 1 - Aberdeen City Council - average length of road closures (calendar days) 93; 2 - Newcastle upon Tyne City Council, 88; 3 - City of Edinburgh Council, 59; 4 - Leicester City Council, 55; 5 - Southwark Borough Council, 53; 6 - Swindon Borough Council, 33; 7 - City of London Corporation, 26; 8 - Leeds City Council, 21; 9 - Ealing Borough Council, 20; 10 - Lewisham Borough Council, 18.
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- Wales Online
UK tourists issued £21k fine warning over little-known driving rule
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Wales Online breaking news on WhatsApp UK tourists have been warned that they risk a huge £21,000 fine if they fail to follow a little-known rule while abroad. According to one expert, there are a number of driving regulations you must be aware of when getting behind the wheel in some European countries. Holidaymakers should also check local laws to make sure they do not land in trouble with the authorities during their trip. If not, you could be risking a very hefty fine and even points on your licence. James Harding, from tyre retailer Blackcircles, said: "Taking your own car, or renting a car abroad, can give holidaymakers a sense of freedom; allowing them to explore their destination themselves. "However, it is important to ensure that you have all the right documents and understand any motoring laws before travelling to your destination. READ MORE: DVSA tyre warning as experts want major MOT rule change "For example, drivers may not operate a dashcam in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria as they are deemed an invasion of privacy. "Repeat offenders can be fined up to £21,000 (€25,000) in Austria. "If you are found eating or drinking behind the wheel in Cyprus, you can be fined £71 (€85). "This includes water, so it is best to pull over if you feel thirsty or peckish. "In Germany, road rage can cost you a hefty sum. "Shouting insults or making offensive gestures to police or members of the public, can cost you up to £3300 (€4,000) in fines." Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here. It is important that you take with you a number of key documents if you have planning to drive in other European countries. These include:
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Daily Record
Holidaymakers warned of European driving rules that could land them with £20K fine
Drivers should be cautious when driving on foreign roads as rules can vary from country to country. Brits heading abroad this summer are being warned of driving rules that could land them in trouble. Breaking several laws whilst driving on foreign roads could could put a dampener on your holidays as police could legally fine motorists as much as 25,000 euros. Ahead of the holiday season, experts are now urging drivers to check local laws and regulations before getting behind the wheel whilst on their travels. Tourists driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria should be aware that you are not allowed to use a dash cam when driving as this can be seen as invading someone's privacy. Also, if you're heading to Cyprus and plan to rent a car, make sure you do not eat or drink whilst driving as you could be fined 85 euros. James Harding, a tyre specialist with over 15 years of experience at Blackcircles, said: "Taking your own car, or renting a car abroad, can give holiday makers a sense of freedom; allowing them to explore their destination themselves. "However, it is important to ensure that you have all the right documents and understand any motoring laws before travelling to your destination.' 'For example, drivers may not operate a dashcam in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria as they are deemed an invasion of privacy. "Repeat offenders can be fined up to €25,000 in Austria. If you are found eating or drinking behind the wheel in Cyprus, you can be fined €85. This includes water, so it is best to pull over if you feel thirsty or peckish. "In Germany, road rage can cost you a hefty sum. Shouting insults or making offensive gestures to police or members of the public, can cost you up to €4,000 in fines.' Important documents to remember when driving in Europe Full, valid driving licence and national insurance number Proof of vehicle insurance Proof of ID (passport) V5C certificate (the 'log book') Travel insurance documents European Breakdown Cover policy number and documents Before you travel, ensure your vehicle's tax and MOT are valid and up-to-date Crit'air sticker if driving in France You may also need to carry other documents with you, including: One or more international driving permits a UK sticker (if you don't have a UK identifier with the Union flag on your number plate) Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. James added: 'It is also important to check that you take time to research road signs, and carry the right documents with you when driving.' Drivers were also previously warned to think twice about taking their business car on personal holidays. Before planning a European road trip in a company vehicle urged employees to check a number of regulations before setting off on their travels. Drivers can only take their company car on holiday with them if they ensure they have one thing - and this is permission. Employees must get written permission from your lease provider before taking your vehicle abroad.
