What you need to do to renew your UK driving licence

You can renew your UK driving licence online, by post, or in person at a Post Office — the route depends on your age, whether you have a photocard, and how much time you have left. Most drivers renew online through the DVLA website, which takes about 10 minutes and costs £20. If you cannot renew online, you will post your documents to DVLA in Swansea or visit a Post Office branch that offers the Verify service.

Your licence expires on your 70th birthday if you passed your test before 1 December 1990, or every 10 years if you passed after that date. The DVLA sends a reminder letter about 56 days before expiry, but you can renew up to 9 months early. Driving on an expired licence is illegal, even if you have applied for renewal.

Key Takeaways

  • Online renewal through the DVLA website is fastest and costs £20, but you must have a valid UK passport or a photocard driving licence issued in the last 10 years.
  • Post Office branches with the Verify service can renew your licence in person without a passport, though you will need to book an appointment and bring your current licence and proof of address.
  • Postal renewal takes 4 to 6 weeks and requires you to send your original licence, a completed form, and supporting documents to DVLA in Swansea.
  • You can renew up to 9 months before your licence expires, but driving on an expired licence is a criminal offence even if your renewal is in progress.
  • If your circumstances have changed — name, address, medical condition, or driving restrictions — you must declare these when you renew.

Online renewal through the DVLA website

Online renewal is the quickest route and available to most drivers. You go to the DVLA's online renewal service, enter your driving licence number and National Insurance number, and answer questions about your health and any changes to your address or name. The system then asks you to prove your identity using either a UK passport or a photocard driving licence issued within the last 10 years. If you have neither, you cannot renew online and must use Post Office or postal renewal instead.

The identity check uses the Verify service, which reads your passport or licence electronically and compares it to your photograph. This usually takes a few minutes. Once verified, you pay £20 by debit or credit card, and your new licence is printed and posted to you within 7 to 10 working days. You do not need to send any physical documents.

Online renewal is not available if you are renewing for the first time after passing your test, if you have a paper licence from before 1998, if you need to change your name or address and cannot do so online, or if you have declared a medical condition that requires DVLA assessment. In those cases, you must renew by post or at a Post Office.

Post Office in-person renewal with Verify

If you do not have a valid passport or recent photocard licence, you can renew at a Post Office branch that offers the Verify service. You book an appointment through the Post Office website, bring your current driving licence and proof of address (such as a recent council tax bill, utility bill, or bank statement), and a staff member checks your identity and submits your renewal to DVLA. The appointment takes about 10 minutes, and the service costs £20, the same as online renewal.

Not all Post Office branches offer Verify — you search for participating branches on the Post Office website by postcode. Appointments are usually available within a few days, though this varies by location. Your new licence is posted to you within 7 to 10 working days after DVLA receives your process.

Post Office renewal is useful if you have lost your passport, do not have a recent photocard licence, or prefer to renew in person. You cannot renew at a Post Office if you are renewing for the first time, if you have a paper licence from before 1998, or if you have declared a medical condition that requires DVLA assessment.

Postal renewal by mail to DVLA

Postal renewal is the slowest route but available to all drivers, including those with paper licences and those with medical conditions. You request a renewal pack from the DVLA by phone (0300 790 6801) or online, or you can read and print the process form D1 from the DVLA website. You complete the form, gather your supporting documents, and post everything to DVLA in Swansea.

Supporting documents vary depending on your circumstances. For a standard renewal, you need your current driving licence, a completed form D1, and proof of address if you have moved. If you have changed your name, you need a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, or deed poll. If you have declared a medical condition, you may need a medical report from your doctor. The DVLA's guidance on form D1 lists all documents required for your situation.

Postal renewal takes 4 to 6 weeks from the date DVLA receives your process. You should post your documents at least 8 weeks before your licence expires to avoid driving on an expired licence. Keep a record of what you sent and consider using tracked postage. Do not send your original licence unless the DVLA specifically asks for it in your renewal pack.

Declaring changes to your health or circumstances

When you renew, you must declare any changes to your health, address, name, or driving restrictions. This includes medical conditions that affect your ability to drive safely — such as epilepsy, diabetes, heart conditions, or mental health conditions — as well as changes to medication. You also declare any driving bans, penalty points, or convictions since your last licence was issued.

If you declare a medical condition, the DVLA may ask your doctor for a medical report or may revoke your licence pending assessment. This can delay your renewal by several weeks. You should contact the DVLA's medical team before you renew if you are unsure whether a condition must be declared. The DVLA's medical conditions guidance lists conditions that must be reported.

If you have moved house, you update your address during online renewal or declare it on form D1 if renewing by post or Post Office. Your new licence will be posted to your new address. If you have changed your name, you declare this and provide the relevant certificate (marriage, civil partnership, or deed poll).

What to do if your licence has already expired

If your licence has already expired, you cannot legally drive, even if you have applied for renewal. You must stop driving when ready. Once your renewal is processed and your new licence arrives, you can drive again. If you have been driving on an expired licence, you risk a fine of up to £1,000 and prosecution.

If your licence expired recently and you need to drive urgently, you can renew online or at a Post Office, which takes 7 to 10 days. Postal renewal takes 4 to 6 weeks, so it is not suitable if you need to drive sooner. If you cannot renew in time, you should not drive until your new licence arrives.

Renewing a paper licence from before 1998

If you still hold a paper licence issued before 1998, you cannot renew online or at a Post Office. You must renew by post. You request form D1 from the DVLA, complete it, and send your original paper licence along with proof of address and any other supporting documents. The DVLA will issue you a new photocard licence, which is valid for 10 years.

Paper licence renewal takes 4 to 6 weeks. You should start the process at least 8 weeks before your licence expires. Once you receive your new photocard licence, you can renew online in future, provided you renew within 10 years of the photocard being issued.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive while my renewal is being processed?

No. If your licence has expired, you cannot legally drive, even if you have applied for renewal and are waiting for your new licence to arrive. Driving on an expired licence is a criminal offence. If you have applied online or at a Post Office, your new licence should arrive within 7 to 10 working days. If you have applied by post, you must wait 4 to 6 weeks.

What if I have lost my driving licence?

If you have lost your licence, you can still renew it. During online renewal, you enter your licence number from memory or from any documents that show it. If you cannot remember your number, you can renew at a Post Office or by post instead. You do not need to report the loss separately unless you want a replacement licence before your renewal is due.

Do I need to pass a test again when I renew?

No. Renewal is not a test. You do not need to take a driving test or a medical test unless the DVLA asks you to because of a declared medical condition or because you are over 70 and renewing for the first time after that age. Standard renewals do not require any test.

How much does it cost to renew my driving licence?

Renewal costs £20 whether you renew online, at a Post Office, or by post. This is the only fee. You do not pay extra for different methods. If you are renewing a paper licence or a licence with a medical condition, the cost is still £20.

What if my address has changed since my last licence?

You declare your new address during online renewal, at a Post Office appointment, or on form D1 if renewing by post. Your new licence will be posted to your new address. You should update your address with the DVLA even if you are not renewing yet, as your licence remains valid at your old address but DVLA records should be current.