You can renew your UK driving licence online, by post, or at the Post Office — the fastest route is online if you have a valid passport

The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) lets you renew your photocard licence through three channels: the GOV.UK website takes about 5 minutes and costs £20, the Post Office takes about 2 weeks and costs £20, or by post takes about 4 weeks and costs £17.50. You cannot renew at a DVLA office in person. The online route is fastest and most straightforward if you have a valid UK, Irish, or certain other passports to verify your identity. If you do not have a passport or yours is expired, the Post Office route is simpler than posting forms to DVLA.

Your licence expires on your 70th birthday if you passed your test before 19 December 1960, or every 10 years after that if you passed later. You can renew up to 9 months before the expiry date. DVLA will send you a reminder letter about 10 weeks before expiry, but you do not have to wait for it — you can start the process whenever you want within that 9-month window.

Key Takeaways

  • Online renewal through GOV.UK takes 5 minutes, costs £20, and is the fastest option if you have a valid passport for identity verification.
  • Post Office renewal takes about 2 weeks, costs £20, and does not require a passport — you can use other documents like a birth certificate.
  • Postal renewal takes 4 weeks, costs £17.50, and is the cheapest option but requires you to send your current licence to DVLA.
  • You can renew up to 9 months before your licence expires, so you do not have to wait for DVLA's reminder letter.
  • If your licence has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you cannot renew — you must order a replacement instead.

Renewing online through GOV.UK

Go to gov.uk/renew-driving-licence and select "Renew your licence online". You will need your driving licence number (on the front of your photocard), National Insurance number, and a valid passport. The system will ask you to take a photo of yourself using your phone or computer camera — this becomes your new photocard photo, so make sure you are in good light and facing the camera directly.

You will also confirm your address and any medical conditions that might affect your driving. If your address has changed, update it now. If you have declared a medical condition to DVLA before, you will see it listed — if it no longer applies, you can remove it, but if you have a new condition, you cannot add it online and must contact DVLA separately. Once you have checked everything, pay £20 by debit or credit card. DVLA will send your new photocard by post within 5 working days in most cases.

If the online system rejects your passport during verification, it usually means your passport has expired or the photo does not match your current appearance clearly enough. In that case, use the Post Office route instead.

Renewing at the Post Office

Find your nearest Post Office that handles driving licence renewals by searching postoffice.co.uk or asking at your local branch — not all Post Offices offer this service. You will need to take your current driving licence and one form of identity. A valid passport works, but so does a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, or a utility bill dated within the last 3 months showing your current address.

The Post Office staff will check your documents, take a new photo of you, and send everything to DVLA. You will receive your new photocard by post within 2 weeks. The cost is £20. You keep your old licence — the Post Office does not take it from you. This route is useful if your passport is expired or you do not have one, because DVLA accepts other identity documents at the Post Office that they do not accept online.

Renewing by post

Request form DL44 from DVLA by calling 0300 790 6801 or downloading it from gov.uk. Fill it in completely, including your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and current address. You will need to provide a new colour photo (35mm × 45mm, printed on photo paper, not digital). Attach the photo to the form with tape or glue — do not use a staple or paperclip.

Send the completed form, your current driving licence, and a cheque or postal order for £17.50 payable to "DVLA" to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AD. Do not send cash. Include a covering letter with your name and driving licence number so DVLA can match your payment to your process. DVLA will send your new photocard by post within 4 weeks. This route is the cheapest but slowest, and you must send your current licence away, so you will not have a photocard while you wait.

What happens if your licence is lost, stolen, or damaged

If your licence is missing or too damaged to use, you cannot renew it — you must order a replacement instead. The replacement process is different and costs more (£20 online or by Post Office, £17.50 by post). Go to gov.uk/replace-lost-stolen-damaged-driving-licence to start. You will need to declare what happened to your licence, and DVLA may ask for a police crime reference number if it was stolen.

If your licence is damaged but still readable and you are within the 9-month renewal window, you can still renew normally — DVLA will accept it as proof of your driving record.

Updating your photo or medical information

If you are renewing online and want to add a new medical condition, you cannot do it as part of the renewal. After your new licence arrives, contact DVLA separately by calling 0300 790 6801 to declare the condition. They may ask you to have a medical assessment before they update your licence.

Your new photocard photo is taken during the renewal process (online or at the Post Office), so you cannot keep your old photo. If you are renewing by post, you must provide a new printed photo. DVLA does not accept digital photos or photos taken from your phone, even if printed at home — the photo must be printed on proper photo paper by a photo lab or professional printer.

Checking your process status

If you renewed online or at the Post Office, you can check your process status on gov.uk/check-driving-licence. You will need your driving licence number and National Insurance number. The system shows whether your process is being processed or has been sent out.

If you renewed by post, you cannot check the status online. If more than 4 weeks have passed and you have not received your new licence, call DVLA on 0300 790 6801. Have your process reference number ready if you have one — it should be on any correspondence DVLA sent you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive while I wait for my new licence?

Yes, your old photocard remains valid until it expires, even after you have submitted a renewal process. You can continue to drive and use your old licence as proof of your entitlement. Once your new licence arrives, destroy your old one or return it to DVLA — you cannot hold two valid licences at the same time.

What if my address has changed since my last licence?

Update your address during the renewal process — all three routes (online, Post Office, or post) ask you to confirm or change your address. If you have moved, provide your new address. DVLA will send your new licence to the address you give them, so make sure it is correct before you finish.

Do I need to pass a test to renew my licence?

No, renewal is not a test. DVLA checks that you are who you say you are and that you have no medical conditions that would stop you driving. If you have declared a condition or DVLA has records of one, they may ask you to have a medical assessment, but this happens separately from the renewal process.

Can someone else renew my licence for me?

No, you must do it yourself. Online renewal requires your own identity verification. At the Post Office, you must be present in person. By post, you must sign the form yourself. DVLA does not accept applications from relatives or representatives, even with a power of attorney.

What if I have changed my name since my last licence?

Provide your new name during renewal and bring proof of the name change — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or deed poll. All three renewal routes ask for your current name, and you will need to show the document that proves the change. If you are renewing online, you may not be able to complete the process if your passport still shows your old name — use the Post Office route instead and bring both your passport and your name change document.