Renew your driving licence
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-01)

Apply online to renew your 10-year driving licence, full or provisional - cost, payment methods, documents and information you need

Renew your:
- full driving licence
- provisional driving licence
It costs £14 when you apply online.

You must renew a photocard licence every 10 years - you’ll receive a reminder before your current licence ends.

To renew your licence, you must:
- be a resident of Great Britain (there’s a different service in Northern Ireland (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/renew-your-driving-licence))
- not be disqualified from driving
You’ll need to apply for your first provisional licence (/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence) if:
- you’ve never applied for a provisional licence before
- you applied for a provisional licence before 1 March 1973
There’s a different way to:
- renew your licence if you’re 70 or over (/renew-driving-licence-at-70)
- renew a 5-year bus or lorry licence (/renew-lorry-bus-coach-licence)
- renew a short-term medical driving licence (/renew-medical-driving-licence)
This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) (/adnewyddu-trwydded-yrru).

Before you start

If your name or title has changed since you got your current driving licence, you cannot renew it online.

If you cannot use the online service, you can apply at a Post Office or by post.

Sign in to renew online

You’ll need to sign in to use this service. If you do not already have sign in details, you’ll be able to create them.

You’ll be told when you sign in if you need to prove your identity. This is to keep your details safe and usually involves using photo ID like a passport or driving licence.

Start now (https://apply-for-driving-licence.service.gov.uk/service-start?start=TYR&locale=en)

After you renew online

Your new licence will be valid from the date your application is approved, not from the expiry date of your current licence.

How much it costs

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).

How long it takes

Your driving licence should arrive within a week if you apply online.

You must send your old photocard licence to DVLA when you get your new licence. You’ll be told the address to use when you finish the application.

Personal data

DVLA will send you a confirmation email once you’ve applied. You might be asked to take part in research by email, but you can opt out.

Apply at a Post Office

You’ll get a reminder letter in the post. Take it to a Post Office (http://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder) that deals with DVLA photocard licence renewal.

You also need to take:
- your photocard licence if you have it
- the £21.50 fee
If you do not have a reminder letter, you’ll need your photocard licence to apply at the Post Office.

You cannot apply at the Post Office if your name has changed. You’ll need to apply by post.

Apply by post

Get a ‘D1 pack’ of forms from a Post Office (http://www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder) that deals with DVLA photocard renewal or vehicle tax.

You need to include these things with your completed forms:
- a recent printed passport type photo (/photos-for-passports/photo-requirements) (do not sign the back of the photo)
- your current photocard licence, if you have it
- a cheque or postal order for £17, payable to DVLA (no fee is needed if you have a medical short period licence or you’re aged 70 or over)
You also need to include identity documents (/driving-licence-application-identity-documents) if you’ve changed your name.

Send the application to:

DVLASwanseaSA99 1DH

After you apply at a Post Office or by post

Your driving licence should arrive within 3 weeks. It might take longer if your medical or personal details need to be checked.

You can continue driving while you wait for your new licence to arrive.