DVLA driver warnings – How YOU could face a £1,000 fine for failing to report any one of 182 common medical conditions
DRIVERS could face a fine of up to £1,000 if they fail to disclose an existing medical condition.
Around a million motorists are estimated to be on the road with a health issue they haven't flagged to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
According to the DVLA, you must tell them if you're suffering with any of .
And the list doesn't just run to a few simple things, it's an extensive A to Z of diseases, syndromes and ailments.
It's also packed with common conditions such as diabetes, depression and high blood pressure included.
Read our DVLA warnings live blog below for full list of laws as well as other updates and tips...
Can DVLA fine me for not changing my address?
Yes, DVLA can fine you up to £1,000 if you don’t tell them of a change of address.
It is always better to inform the DVLA sooner rather than later about a change of address - but, as long as you do so voluntarily, you will be able to avoid a fine.
How long does it take to change an address on a driving licence in UK?
Filling out the form on the gov.uk website should take you no longer than about ten minutes, provided you are ready with all the details you need.
Once you have done this, you would typically expect your updated driving licence with your new address on it to arrive in the post within about seven days.
However, Covid delays have meant some people have been forced to wait ten weeks for licence renewals.
If you have applied by post, it usually takes up to three weeks to change the address on your driving licence.
Again, you could face longer waits due to the pandemic.
Getting your new license can also take longer if the DVLA needs to check any of the details of your application.
You are allowed to drive without a physical licence in your possession while you are waiting for your new licence to arrive, as long as you have not been disqualified from driving.
Explained: How much does a new tyre cost?
The cost of a replacement tyre will depend heavily on the type of tyre your car uses and the brand of tyre you choose.
Generally speaking, the smaller the wheel size and the narrower a tyre is, the cheaper it is.
It is estimated that UK tyre prices range from £40 onwards.
Myths around eating while driving
Another common motoring myth is that it's illegal to eat while driving.
While this isn't true, again you could get an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three points if snacking proves distracting and you're deemed as not being in proper control of the vehicle.
There are also plenty of speed camera myths, and many drivers believe you will only have been caught speeding if the camera flashes, for example.
What should I do if I get a flat tyre?
If you believe you have a flat tyre, you should not travel long distances and make sure that you can get them replaced as soon as possible.
Th AA advise that you do not try to change a tyre on the hard shoulder of a motorway or at the side of the road, as this can be dangerous.
Instead, it’s best to turn off or pull well away from traffic and call for help from a breakdown service.
But if you are in a safe place to do so, you can always change the tyre yourself.
suggest wearing a high visibility vest and placing a reflective hazard warning triangle a good distance behind your car, in order to alert oncoming traffic.
Then make sure that you know where the spare wheel, jack, wheel brace and locking wheel nut key are before you start.
The Sun has a step by step guide on changing a tyre.
Is it illegal to drive with your car interior lights on?
HAVING the interior lights on in your car can be distracting - but is it actually illegal?
It's a common myth than having the inside lights on when driving could land you in trouble.
You might have been told that having the interior lights of a car on when the vehicle is moving is illegal and could get you a fine or points on your licence.
But this is actually one of the biggest motoring myths out there.
There is actually no specific law that says you can't have the lights on in your car when you're behind the wheel.
According to the AA, this is something which a lot of people think is fact but there's no actual law against it.
Keeping up to date with the latest road rules is important if you want to avoid an unexpected fine.
Warning over expired licences
In order to drive legally, you must have a driving licence – but they only last for 10 years.
During the Covid crisis, drivers were granted a breather and given an extra 11 months on driving licences that expired between February 1 and December 31, 2020.
That means if your licence was due to expire on December 31, 2020, you’ll have until November 30 – a matter of weeks – to renew it.
But as two fifths of Brits don’t know their driving licence must be renewed every 10 years, it could mean thousands of drivers could be on the road with an expired licence.
Co-op Insurance recently revealed that 450,000 driving licences have already expired after the extension ran out for thousands of drivers earlier this year.
New rules on towing trailers as part of DVLA shake up
A new law will roll out from November 15, which drivers will need to know about if they’re planning on towing a trailer or a caravan.
Drivers who passed their test after January 1, 1997, will be able to tow heavy loads without taking a specialist test first.
This marks a major change from current rules where some drivers need to have a car and trailer test to be able to tow.
From Monday, any qualified driver start pulling trailers weighing up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) without training, experience or supervision.
Drivers licences will now display a category BE on the photocard, indicating that you can tow a trailer or caravan.
But drivers towing for the first time have been warned by the National Accident Helpline to “take extra care”.
Guidance encourages doctors to ‘tell on’ drivers
Guidance by the General Medical Council encourages doctors to “tell on” motorists to the DVLA as a last resort if they think they’re ignoring medical advice and still driving.
But it goes against general medical ethics that say what you discuss with a GP is confidential.
Other motorists can also report drivers confidentially if they believe they’re flouting medical rules and continuing to drive.
No fines for paper license - unless you have incorrect details
Drivers cannot be fined for having a paper licence if all of their details are valid.
But if their information is incorrect they could face massive penalties.
Police can issue fines of up to £1,000 to a driver if they don’t tell them of a change of address.
Driving licence photos must be replaced every 10 years – with a £10,000 fine also slapped on drivers who have outdated pictures.
Renewals cost £14 online and £17 by post.
Licences must be renewed when the driver hits 70 years old – with subsequent renewals every three years.
Licence can be removed
Some of the conditions could lead to immediate licence revocation, for example eye sight problems or seizures.
But other illnesses mean you'll only have a licence taken away if a doctor decides that it affects your driving, as figures show in nine out of 10 cases you'll keep it.
Who can tell on you?
Guidance by the General Medical Council encourages doctors to "tell on" motorists to the DVLA as a last resort if they think they're ignoring medical advice and still driving.
But it goes against general medical ethics that say what you discuss with a GP is confidential.
Other motorists can also report drivers confidentially if they believe they're flouting medical rules and continuing to drive.
Is it illegal to drive with your car interior lights on?
HAVING the interior lights on in your car can be distracting - but is it actually illegal?
It's a common myth than having the inside lights on when driving could land you in trouble.
You might have been told that having the interior lights of a car on when the vehicle is moving is illegal and could get you a fine or points on your licence.
But this is actually one of the biggest motoring myths out there.
There is actually no specific law that says you can't have the lights on in your car when you're behind the wheel.
According to the AA, this is something which a lot of people think is fact but there's no actual law against it.
Keeping up to date with the latest road rules is important if you want to avoid an unexpected fine.
How much is the fine for having a dirty licence plate?
Police are cracking down on drivers who have dirty or obstructed number plates on their cars.
Number plates are important, as they let the owner and the police know when and where the vehicle is registered.
Drivers with dirty licence plates or ones that are hard to read may face a fine of up to £1,000.
The fine is to act as a deterrent and a reminder to drivers in the UK to check their licence plates on a regular basis.
Can I be fined for only having a paper licence?
Drivers cannot be fined for having a paper licence if all of their details are valid.
But if their information is incorrect they could face massive penalties.
Police can issue fines of up to £1,000 to a driver if they don’t tell them of a change of address.
Driving licence photos must be replaced every 10 years - with a £10,000 fine also slapped on drivers who have outdated pictures.
Renewals cost £14 online and £17 by post.
Licences must be renewed when the driver hits 70 years old - with subsequent renewals every three years.
Are old-style paper driving licences still valid?
A paper-only licence is still valid if it is fully up to date.
From 1998 - when the paper-only system was scrapped - a plastic licence was handed out along with the old-school paper counterpart.
The paper licence allowed drivers to keep an eye on the points they were slapped with.
But, on June 8 2015, the paper system was abandoned all together to be replaced with an online database.
A driver who has both a plastic and paper licence can destroy the paper version.
'I got £100 back after a pothole burst my tyre and it took 10 minutes' – how you can do it too
MUM-of-one Kerry Hyde and her fiance Mark Barber were driving back from a holiday in Scotland in 2018 when suddenly they heard a loud bang.
They pulled over and realised a pothole had blown their tyre.
Luckily they were prepared and had a spare tyre and were quickly back on the road.
But firefighter Kerry, from Cambridgeshire, made a note of where they were and the next day she checked on to see if the pothole had been previously reported - and it had.
It took the 33-year-old just 10 minutes to put her claim in.
Depending on where the pothole is, drivers can claim compensation from a local council or Highways England.
If a pothole has already been reported to either organisations, then the likelihood of getting a pay out increases.
This is because the council, or Highways England, was already made aware of the pothole - but failed to do anything about it.
Read more here
Driving in fog tips from the Met Office
The Met Office have release top 5 tips when driving in foggy conditions as it is expected that much of the UK will see fog tomorrow morning.
Tip 1 - Make sure you're familiar with how to use your front and rear fog lights.
Tip 2 - Do not use full beam lights as the fog reflects the light back reducing visibility.
Tip 3 - Follow the 'two-second rule' to leave sufficient space between you and the car in front.
Tip 4 - Ensure the heater is set to windscreen de-misting and open up all vents.
Tip 5 - If visibility is very limited, wind down your windows at junctions and crossroads to allow you to listen for approaching traffic.
Is changing my address on a drivers' licence free?
Yes, it is free to change the address on your driving licence with the DVLA.
It is also free to change the picture on your driving licence if you are over 70 or carry a medical short period licence.
If you don't meet that criteria, you must pay £14, or £17 to change your driving licence photo - which you can pay by credit card or debit card.
How do I change my address with DVLA?
To change your address with the DVLA you need to be the licence holder.
To change your address you will need:
- your full or provisional driving licence
- to live in Great Britain - there’s a
- the addresses where you have been a resident in the past three years
- to not be banned from driving
You'll also be asked for your National Insurance and passport number if you know them.
You can change the address on your provisional or full driving licence via the online form on the website.
When you have finished the application the DVLA will send you an email to confirm they have received it.
How much will a new tyre cost?
The cost of a replacement tyre will depend heavily on the type of tyre your car uses and the brand of tyre you choose.
Generally speaking, the smaller the wheel size and the narrower a tyre is, the cheaper it is.
It is estimated that UK tyre prices range from £40 onwards.
What should I do if I get a flat tyre?
If you believe you have a flat tyre, you should not travel long distances and make sure that you can get them replaced as soon as possible.
Th AA advise that you do not try to change a tyre on the hard shoulder of a motorway or at the side of the road, as this can be dangerous.
Instead, it’s best to turn off or pull well away from traffic and call for help from a breakdown service.
But if you are in a safe place to do so, you can always change the tyre yourself.
suggest wearing a high visibility vest and placing a reflective hazard warning triangle a good distance behind your car, in order to alert oncoming traffic.
Then make sure that you know where the spare wheel, jack, wheel brace and locking wheel nut key are before you start.
The Sun has a step by step guide on changing a tyre.
Is it illegal to drive with a flat tyre?
The Highway Code stipulates that your tyres need to be inflated to the correct pressure – so a flat tyre would render your vehicle unfit for the road.
According to the DVLA, driving with a flat or damaged tyre could land you with a £100 fine.
The tell-tale signs of having a flat tyre is if your steering feels funny when you're driving, or you're slowing down for no reason, the RAC says.
You'll hear a thud and a flapping noise if it's a really serious puncture.
Tyre valve issues could also result in a flat tyre.
The tyre valve is in your tyre - and if it's damaged or corroded, it can mean air escapes and your tyre goes down.
The little-known driving licence trick that could save YOU money
DRIVERS could be saving £2.3million each year if they renewed their licences online rather than posting their applications.
The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency has revealed that almost a quarter of the two million applications they received were sent by post or the Post Office.
British motorists submitted the documents between April 2020 and March 2021, without realising that they could apply online.
On the official Gov.uk website renewing a photocard driving licence costs just £14 and their new one is sent out within five days.
But posting your application to the DVLA costs £17 and will take longer to process, especially with a third of DVLA staff continuing to work from home.
Julie Lennard, chief executive of the DVLA, said: “Our online services are the quickest and easiest way to deal with DVLA, and customers usually receive their driving and vehicle documents in just five days.”
She explained that there are a number of fake sites online which charge more than the £14 offered by the Gov.uk service.
You could be fined £30 for having your fog lights on
BRITS could be slapped with a £30 fine for driving with fog lights on under a surprising rule.
Motorists may think they know the do's and don't's of how to use their lights, but it seems this rule in the Highway Code is often overlooked.
Drivers could face a brush with the law if they use their fog lights when they aren't needed, as they can dazzle other road users and obscure your brake lights.
It could cause havoc on the roads and see you pulled over by the police if you fail to comply with the rule.
You could then face points on your license and a fine of up to £30 if you use the high visibility lights when cops don't deem it foggy enough.
Rule 236 of the Highway Code states: "You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights.
"You MUST switch them off when visibility improves."
