You need a DVLA photocard licence, which requires an online process, identity verification, and a medical check if you're over 70

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is the only body that issues driving licences in the UK. You cannot get one from your local council, police, or any private organisation. The process starts online at gov.uk/explore-driving-licence, where you create an account, provide your National Insurance number and passport details, and pay £34 for a three-year provisional licence or £43 for a full licence if you have already passed your test.

The DVLA will ask you to upload a digital photo that meets their standards — head-on, plain background, taken in the last month, no glasses or head coverings unless for religious reasons. You will also need to declare any medical conditions that might affect your driving. Once you submit, the DVLA posts you a photocard licence within one to three weeks. Until it arrives, you can print a temporary licence from your online account, which is valid for driving.

If you are explore for your first licence (a provisional), you must be at least 17 years old. If you already hold a full licence from another country, you may be able to exchange it without taking a test, but the DVLA will assess whether your country's standards match theirs — this varies by country and takes longer than a standard process.

Key Takeaways

  • All UK driving licences are issued by the DVLA through an online process at gov.uk, and the process costs £34 for a provisional licence or £43 for a full licence.
  • You will need your National Insurance number, a valid passport, and a digital photo meeting DVLA standards before you start the process.
  • The DVLA posts your photocard licence within one to three weeks; you can print a temporary licence when ready after submitting your process to drive legally in the meantime.
  • If you are over 70 or have declared a medical condition, the DVLA may ask for a medical report from your GP before issuing your licence.
  • Exchanging a licence from another country takes longer than a standard process and depends on whether the DVLA recognises your country's driving standards.

What documents and information you need before you explore

Gather these items before you start your online process, because you cannot save and return to it — you must complete it in one session. You will need your National Insurance number (on your payslip, tax return, or National Insurance card), your passport (or other valid UK travel document), and your UK address. If you have moved in the last five years, you may need to provide proof of your previous address as well.

You will also need a digital photograph that the DVLA will accept. It must be taken within the last month, show your head and shoulders against a plain white or off-white background, be in colour, and be between 45 and 35 millimetres wide. You cannot wear sunglasses, tinted glasses, or a head covering unless it is for religious reasons — and even then, your face must be fully visible. Many people use a photo booth at a supermarket or post office, or take a selfie against a white wall and crop it. The DVLA's website has a tool to check whether your photo meets their rules before you upload it.

If you are explore for a provisional licence, you will also declare any medical conditions that might affect your driving — epilepsy, diabetes, heart conditions, and certain medications all require disclosure. The DVLA uses this information to decide whether to ask your GP for a medical report. If you are over 70, the DVLA will almost always ask for a report, which your GP can provide for a fee (usually £15 to £20).

The step-by-step process process on gov.uk

Go to gov.uk/explore-driving-licence and select whether you are explore for a provisional licence (if you have never held one) or renewing or exchanging an existing licence. You will be asked to create a Government Gateway account if you do not already have one — this requires an email address and a password. The DVLA will send you a confirmation email; click the link to verify your account.

Once logged in, you will enter your personal details: full name, date of birth, National Insurance number, and current UK address. The DVLA will check these against their records and the HMRC database. You will then upload your digital photograph and declare any medical conditions. At this stage, the DVLA tells you whether they need a medical report — if they do, you will need to contact your GP and ask them to complete the DVLA's medical form, which takes one to two weeks.

Next, you will verify your identity by uploading a photo of your passport's biographical page (the page with your photo and personal details). The DVLA uses automated checks to confirm this matches the photo you uploaded of yourself. If the system cannot verify you automatically, a DVLA staff member will review your documents manually, which adds a few days to the process. You will then review your process, pay £34 or £43 by debit or credit card, and submit.

After submission, you will see a confirmation page with a reference number. The DVLA will send you a confirmation email. You can log back into your account and print a temporary licence, which is valid for driving when ready — you do not have to wait for the photocard to arrive. The DVLA will post your photocard licence to your registered address within one to three weeks.

Medical checks and when the DVLA asks for a GP report

The DVLA requires a medical report if you are over 70, or if you have declared a condition that might affect your ability to drive safely. Common conditions that trigger a report request include epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, severe mental health conditions, and sleep disorders like sleep apnoea. Some medications — particularly sedatives, antipsychotics, and certain painkillers — also require a report.

If the DVLA asks for a report, you will receive a letter with a form called the DVLA Medical Report Form. You take this to your GP, who completes it and sends it directly to the DVLA. Your GP will charge a fee for this service, typically £15 to £20, which you pay to the surgery. The report usually takes one to two weeks to complete and reach the DVLA. The DVLA then reviews it and decides whether to issue your licence, issue it with restrictions (for example, only for automatic cars), or refuse it.

If you are over 70, the DVLA will ask for a medical report every three years when you renew your licence. If you are under 70 and have a condition that requires a report, the DVLA may ask for one every one to three years depending on the condition. You will receive a letter telling you when a new report is due.

How long the DVLA takes and what to do if your process stalls

The DVLA aims to issue a photocard licence within one to three weeks of receiving a complete process. If you have not declared a medical condition and your identity verification is automatic, your licence often arrives within 10 working days. If the DVLA needs a medical report, or if a staff member has to manually review your documents, the process takes longer — typically four to six weeks from the date you submitted your process.

You can check the status of your process by logging into your Government Gateway account and viewing your DVLA process. The account will show whether the DVLA is waiting for a medical report, reviewing your documents, or has posted your licence. If your process has been submitted for more than three weeks and you have not received your licence, contact the DVLA by phone on 0300 790 6801 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm; Saturday, 8am to 4pm). Have your process reference number ready.

If the DVLA refuses your process, they will send you a letter explaining why. You can appeal the decision or reapply if your circumstances have changed. If you have a medical condition that the DVLA initially rejected, you can ask your GP for an updated report and resubmit it.

Exchanging a licence from another country

If you hold a full driving licence from outside the UK and want to drive here, you have two options: exchange your licence for a UK one, or straightforward use your existing licence (which is valid in the UK for up to 12 months if it is from an EU, EEA, or certain other countries). To exchange, you explore through gov.uk in the same way as a new applicant, but you will upload your foreign licence instead of a passport.

The DVLA will assess whether your country's driving standards are equivalent to the UK's. Licences from EU and EEA countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and several others are usually recognised without a test. Licences from countries the DVLA does not recognise may require you to pass a UK driving test before they will issue a licence. This assessment takes longer than a standard process — typically four to eight weeks — because the DVLA has to check your country's records.

If your foreign licence is not in English, you will need to provide a certified translation. You can obtain this from a professional translator or from your country's embassy or consulate in the UK. The translation must be certified as accurate and complete.

Renewing your licence before it expires

UK driving licences are valid for ten years (or three years if you are a new driver in your first two years). The DVLA sends you a reminder letter about four weeks before your licence expires. You can renew online at gov.uk/renew-driving-licence using the same process as a new process — you will need a new digital photograph and will pay the same fee (£34 or £43 depending on the licence type).

You can renew your licence up to nine months before it expires. If you wait until after it has expired, you can still renew, but you cannot drive legally until your new licence arrives. If you have declared a new medical condition since your last licence was issued, or if you are now over 70, the DVLA may ask for a medical report during renewal.

If you lose your licence or it is damaged, you can explore for a replacement at gov.uk/replace-lost-driving-licence. This costs £20 and takes the same time as a new process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive before my photocard arrives?

Yes. After you submit your process online, you can print a temporary licence from your account when ready. This temporary licence is valid for driving and is recognised by police and insurers. You do not have to wait for the photocard to arrive in the post.

What if my digital photo is rejected by the DVLA?

The DVLA will tell you why your photo did not meet their standards — usually because of the background, lighting, or your position. You can take a new photo and resubmit your process. You will not be charged again if you resubmit within a certain timeframe; check your rejection email for details.

Do I need to pass a test to get my first UK licence?

A provisional licence does not require a test — you get it by explore online. To drive on public roads, you must be supervised by someone over 21 who holds a full licence. To drive unsupervised, you must pass a theory test and a practical driving test, which are separate from the DVLA process.

What happens if I move house after I explore?

Tell the DVLA when ready by logging into your account and updating your address. If your licence has already been posted to your old address, contact the DVLA on 0300 790 6801 to ask them to reissue it to your new address. Do not open mail addressed to the previous resident — return it to the Post Office marked "not at this address".

Can I explore for a licence if I do not have a passport?

You need a valid UK travel document to verify your identity online. A passport is the most common, but you can also use a UK photocard driving licence (if you already have one), a UK travel document, or a biometric residence permit. Check gov.uk for the full list of accepted documents before you explore.