Driving Licence Renewal Scam
The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) has warned drivers to always use the official government website when applying for driving licence renewals as third party companies are charging over £80 to renew a driving license, a service that is free from the governments website (GOV.UK).
This scam targets the elderly more as drivers over the age of 70 need to renew their drivers license every 3 years.
The DVLA said it had been notified by more than 800 British drivers in 2021 who had renewed their licences through a third-party website and paid a fee for doing so.
Chief executive Julie Lennard has urged elderly drivers to always use GOV.UK when renewing a licence for a quick, easy and free service.
“Drivers looking to renew their licence at 70 and over should use our online service which is secure, free of charge, and also the quickest, easiest way to transact with DVLA,” she said. “Customers usually receive their driving licence in just five days.
Many third-party sites appear high up in Google search results for the DVLA, often causing many drivers to inadvertently use them, as they mistakenly think they’re dealing with the DVLA. These third-party websites then charge a fee to pass a driver’s application to the DVLA, but they are not affiliated with the government agency in any way. Applications made through external sites are not processed any faster than those made through the GOV.UK website.
People who fall victim to this type of scam are often unaware as they will receive their renewed driving license in the post as normal, they are simply paying a third party to apply for it on their behalf.
The DVLA has previously explained that third-party sites comply with regulation if they display a disclaimer stating they’re not affiliated with the DVLA and link back to the official government services.
