Drivers who have made 1 major life change face £1,000 DVLA fine

Motorists who got married in the summer could be at risk of a hefty DVLA fine for breaking a simple driving licence rule. Tim Alcock, director at motoring experts LeaseCar, has explained that newlyweds who forget to change the legal name on their driving licence could be caught out.

Driving licences are legal documents and must have correct information such as a motorist's name and address. It's therefore important that spouses who take on another partner's name or come up with a new hybrid option should inform the DVLA as soon as possible. Failure to update details could lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and other serious legal complications in a blow to the celebrations.

Tim said: "As more couples getting married are choosing to buck the trend of taking one partner's name, with some merging their names or choosing a new name together, this changes the way in which your name is legally updated, which affects the name change process through the DVLA.

"If you choose anything other than taking one partner's existing name, the name change must be done via deed poll, meaning you will need more documentation than just a marriage certificate. This also affects the urgency of how soon you need to tell the DVLA of your new name."

New data from the UK Deed Poll Office shed light on the popularity of new hybrid names, often a cross mix of both partners' surnames. Statistics found that 14.5% of deed poll name changes in London were made because of marriage.

As well as the financial risks, name discrepancies can lead to a range of other significant problems. Most importantly, motorists could complicate matters if their licence doesn't match the name on their vehicle's registration or insurance policy.

Tim added: The best practice is to first update your details with HMRC to ensure your National Insurance number and tax records are correct.

"Then, use your marriage certificate or Deed Poll to update all other documents, starting with your driving licence, passport and bank accounts. A little effort upfront can prevent a lot of stress and potential legal problems down the road."