When it comes to driving, the most important thing is that you are confident, well and competent in your ability to drive. You won’t need to stop driving unless there are other reasons for you to do so, such as a medical condition, but there is no upper age limit or driver assessment for those aged over 70. When you reach your 70th birthday you will need to renew your licence with DVLA and every three years after this. There’s a common misconception that older people need to retake their driving test, but this isn’t the case. You will be told by a court if this is the case and will need to apply for a provisional licence first. If you are banned from driving, due to being convicted of a driving offence, for 56 days or more you will need to apply for a new driving licence and possibly retake your driving test. If your condition is listed, it’s extremely important to tell the DVLA as soon as possible, as failure to do so could mean a fine of up to £1,000 and put yourself and others at risk. If you are unsure if a health condition or disability would affect your driving skills, check the list on the GOV.UK website. If you are unsure if a medical condition or disability will affect your driving skills, check the list on the GOV.UK website. It’s important that you tell the DVLA if you develop a medical condition or disability that could affect your driving ability. Do you need to retake a driving test?Īlthough drivers will need to renew their driving licence every ten years – this is your photocard licence – you won’t need to retake your test except in a few instances: Medical condition or disability In this article, we look at the circumstances that may mean you have to retake your driving test as well as driving licence age restrictions. But how long is it valid for?Īlthough there isn’t a set period of time when you need to retake your driving test, there are instances where your license could be revoked or you’ll need to prove that you are still fit to drive. The day that you pass your driving test is full of excitement – after all the lessons and nerves, you are at last in possession of a driving licence.