Driving Licence Renewals and Updates

Your photocard driving licence must be renewed every 10 years. This is a photo renewal only. Your actual entitlement to drive does not expire with the photocard.

The DVLA will send you a reminder (form D798) about 56 days before your photocard expires. The expiry date is shown in section 4b on the front of your licence.

Online renewal through GOV.UK is the cheapest and fastest option. You will need a valid UK passport for the photo verification, or you can upload a new digital photo.

You can update your address for free online at GOV.UK. You will need your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and your new address.

A new photocard with your updated address will be posted to your new address within 2 to 3 weeks. You must destroy your old licence when the new one arrives.

To change your name on your driving licence, you need to:

1. Complete a D1 application form (available from any Post Office or by calling the DVLA).

2. Send the completed form to the DVLA along with your current driving licence and your original marriage certificate (or deed poll if changing for another reason).

There is no fee for a name change. Your original documents will be returned separately. Allow 3 to 4 weeks for your new licence to arrive.

Updating your photo follows the same process as a standard renewal. You can do it online through GOV.UK for £14.

If you have a valid UK passport, the DVLA can use your passport photo. Otherwise, you will need to upload a new digital photo that meets their requirements (plain background, neutral expression, no glasses).

Your new photocard will arrive within 1 to 3 weeks.

Technically, driving with an expired photocard is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988, and you could face a fine of up to £1,000.

However, it is important to understand the distinction: your entitlement to drive does not expire when your photocard expires. It is the card itself that needs renewing. Your insurance should still be valid, but some insurers may raise issues if your photocard is out of date.

The safest approach is to renew promptly when you receive your reminder.

When you turn 70, you must renew your driving licence. The DVLA will send you a D46P form approximately 90 days before your 70th birthday. You can also renew online at GOV.UK.

Renewal at 70 and every 3 years thereafter is free of charge. You will need to declare any medical conditions that could affect your driving. If you have notifiable conditions, the DVLA may issue a shorter-period licence.

Yes. You can renew at any time. However, if you renew more than 3 months before your current licence expires, your new licence will be valid for 10 years from the date of issue rather than from your old expiry date. This means you effectively lose the remaining time on your current licence.

If you renew within 3 months of expiry, your new licence will run from the old expiry date, giving you the full 10 years.