At a cost to motorists of almost £19 million!
New released figures have shown that nearly 1 million replacement driving licences were applied for in 2017, at a cost to motorists of almost £19 million.
In total, 931,527 applications were sent to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) requesting a replacement driving licence following the loss of the original.
Between 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018, motorists in the UK spent £18.6 million on replacement licences, as a £20 fee is charged when you apply for a replacement if your licence is lost, damaged or stolen.
Nearly 1m replacement driving licences applied for in 2017!
The DVLA also released data from a separate survey which showed that 3.1% of Scottish drivers keep their driving licences in their car, whilst the national average stands at 1.7%.
Furthermore, it seems as though older drivers tend to keep their licences at home in comparison to younger motorists – 18.5% over the age of 55 do so compared to just 7% of young drivers aged 17 to 34.
It isn’t a legal requirement in the UK for drivers to carry around their licence whilst they are driving, however a licence is needed as proof that you are eligible to drive.
Following the findings, DVLA’s drivers service manager, Dudley Ashford said: “We’d recommend keeping your licence safe and secure at all times – perhaps storing it in one safe place along with other important documents.”
Not so long ago, driving licences in the UK also came with a paper counterpart which meant drivers had to take care of two parts but this paper section was phased out in June 2015 – in this year it turns out nearly half a million of them were lost also!
If you do lose your driving licence and need to apply for a replacement, the quickest way is to apply online. If after it arrives your original one turns up, you must send it to the DVLA with a short explanation.
If your driving licence is stolen you must report it to the police before applying for a replacement.
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