All motorists in England, Scotland and Wales are legally obliged to renew their driving licence every three years once they reach the age of 70.

However, more than a quarter of drivers aged over 65 – equal to 2.1 million people – don’t know about the law, according to Direct Line Car Insurance research.

This puts them at risk of driving illegally and invalidating their insurance.

According to the Direct Line study, 84% of over 65s are licence holders and there are currently four million drivers with a full licence aged 70 or over.

There are also 230 drivers aged 100 or above, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) said.

Direct Line also found that 99% of the over 65s surveyed rated themselves as an average, good, or excellent driver. However more than half a million (7%) doubted their ability to read a number plate 20 meters away and one in 10 has had an accident in the past five years.

The study also highlighted that while 52% of older drivers agreed that 70 was the right age for a standard licence to expire, 20% felt it should be determined on a case-by-case basis and 17% felt 70 was too early. A further 3% felt it should expire before the age of 70, while 6% felt it shouldn‘t expire at all.

What happens when I turn 70?

Your driving licence will automatically expire when you reach the age of 70, regardless of your health or ability to drive and you’ll need to renew it and list any medical conditions which might affect your driving.

You can do this for free online, otherwise the DVLA will automatically send you a D46P application form 90 days before your 70^th birthday so you can renew by post. You can also pick up a form from the Post Office.

If you fail to renew your licence and are caught driving, you face a fine of up to £1,000.

Gus Park, director of motor at Direct Line said: “It’s crucial that older motorists are aware of their obligations to renew their licence as they risk driving illegally if it expires.

“We want to remind older drivers that their licence will automatically expire at the age of 70 – regardless of their health or ability to drive. If an older motorist wants to continue to drive they must make a renewal application in advance, and continue to do so every three years from the age of 70 to ensure their insurance remains valid. Even those who do this accidentally can face a very hefty fine, which is a high price to pay when the renewal process for over 70s is free.”