Driving after 70: what you need to know

On your 70th birthday, your driving licence expires. But this doesn’t mean you can’t drive anymore – you're just required to renew your driving licence if you want to continue, and every three years after that.

Here's what you need to do to renew your licence and stay on the road.

The DVLA should automatically send you a D46P renewal 90 days before your 70th birthday. Alternatively, you can find the form online at GOV.uk or collect a D1 application form from your local Post Office.

If you have a photocard licence, fill in the form and return it to the DVLA with your current driving licence. 

If you have a paper licence, fill in the form and enclose a recent passport-style photo. 

Renewing your licence at 70 or over is free.

You’ll need to renew your driving licence every three years after you turn 70 ^{Footnote [1]}. However, you’ll only need to get your ability to drive reassessed if you develop a health condition that could affect your driving. You can also choose to be assessed – some people find this helps them feel more confident on the road.

There are some age-related health conditions that you must tell the DVLA about, such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and some eyesight problems. You should also report any medical conditions to your insurance company.

If you don’t declare medical conditions on your car insurance, there’s a risk that your policy could be cancelled. This applies to any form on non-disclosure, so make sure the information you provide to your insurer is correct and up to date.

You can carry on driving while your licence is with the DVLA for renewal, provided you meet the following conditions:

• Your licence is valid
• You have agreement from your doctor to keep driving
• You only drive under the conditions of your previous licence
• Your application is under a year old
• Your last licence wasn’t revoked or refused for medical reasons
• You’re not disqualified from driving
• you weren’t disqualified as a high risk offender on or after 1 June 2013

Older drivers are often careful and experienced drivers. However, insurers generally classify them as higher risk. This will just be one of many factors considered when calculating premiums.

Your car insurance payments may increase in your seventies and beyond.

Potential ways to help keep the price of your cover down:

• Paying annually for your cover to avoid interest charges
• Driving safely to maintain your no claim discount
• Getting a multi-car insurance policy discount if you have more than one car in your household ^{Footnote [2]}