The police have the ability to stop a vehicle for any reason
To legally drive a car you must be in possession of the correct documentation. Although you are not legally required to keep any documents in your car, you do need to own them and it can be helpful to keep certain paperwork in your vehicle.
If you are pulled over by a police officer, you may be asked to present certain documents. The police can stop a vehicle for any reason. If they ask you to stop, you should always pull over when it’s safe to do so. You’re breaking the law if you do not stop.
If a driver is stopped they must be able to show three documents to an officer:
- a valid insurance certificate
- a valid MOT certificate (if your vehicle needs one)
Guidance on Gov.uk warns that if you do not have documents with you at the time, you may be asked to take them to a police station within seven days.
As well as asking for documents, police can stop you at any time and ask you to take a breath test. Officers can stop you if they think you have been drinking, you’ve committed a traffic offence or you’ve been involved in a road traffic accident.
If you refuse to take a breath test, or fail to supply a sample of breath and do not have a ‘reasonable excuse’, you can be arrested. A reasonable excuse could be a genuine physical or mental condition stopping you from giving a sample.
The breath test gives a result straight away. If it shows you’re not over the drink drive limit, you may be allowed to go. If you fail the breath test, you’ll be taken to a police station and given a final breath test. If it’s positive, you will be charged.
The Drivers Licence Agency has also shared a reminder about driving licences and their expiration dates earlier this month. Drivers are required to renew their licence every decade to continue driving legally. You will receive a reminder before your current licence ends.
A new licence will be valid from the date your application is approved, rather than the expiry date of your current licence. Online applicants typically receive their new licences within a week. You must send your old photocard licence to DVLA when you get your new licence.
Once you have applied, DVLA will send a confirmation email. If you don’t want to apply online, you can apply at a Post Office. You need to take your reminder letter about the licence renewal to your nearest branch, if it deals with DVLA photocard renewals.
Renewing your licence online costs £14. You can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card (there’s no fee if you’re over 70 or have a medical short period licence).
