To change the address on your driving licence, go to gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence. The service is free, available 24 hours a day, and takes around five minutes. A new photocard licence arrives at your new address within one to two weeks. Updating by post takes three to four weeks. Failing to update your driving licence address is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000.
Key Takeaways
- Change your driving licence address free at gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence. Takes around 5 minutes, available 24/7.
- You need your photocard licence, new address, and all addresses from the last 3 years. Your NI number speeds up identity checks.
- New photocard arrives in 1 to 2 weeks online. Postal applications take 3 to 4 weeks. You can drive normally while waiting.
- Your driving licence and V5C logbook are two separate DVLA records. Updating one does not update the other.
- Failing to update is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Fine up to £1,000.
Are you legally required to update your driving licence when you move?
Yes. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, every holder of a full or provisional driving licence in Great Britain must keep their address details accurate with the DVLA. This is a legal obligation, not a guideline. The DVLA can issue a fine of up to £1,000 for failing to maintain accurate licence details, including your address.
The obligation applies whether you own a vehicle or not, whether you drive regularly or not, and whether you are renting or buying your new property. A temporary move, such as a stay of several months in rented accommodation, still counts. If you are living at a new address, your driving licence should reflect that address.
Update after you move, not before. The DVLA requires you to update your driving licence address once you are living at your new address. Update it on or after moving day, not in advance.
What do you need to change your driving licence address?
The online service is quick and requires no account if you already have a GOV.UK login, or takes a few minutes to set up. Before you start, have the following to hand:
- Your current photocard driving licence: you will need the licence number printed on the front
- Your new address and postcode
- All addresses you have lived at over the past three years: the GOV.UK service asks for your address history as part of identity verification. Have these ready before you start to avoid losing progress mid-application
- Your National Insurance number: not strictly required but speeds up identity verification significantly
- Your passport number: also optional but helpful for identity checks if your NI number is not accepted
Watch out for scam websites. A number of unofficial websites charge fees to update your driving licence address. The official DVLA service at gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence is always free. Look for the .gov.uk domain before entering any details or making any payment.
How do you change your driving licence address online?
The online service is the fastest and most straightforward method. It is available every day of the year, at any hour, and costs nothing for a standard address change.
Use only the official GOV.UK website. The service is available 24 hours a day. You will be asked to sign in or create a GOV.UK account if you do not already have one.
Provide your driving licence number, which appears on the front of your photocard. The service uses this to locate your DVLA record and verify your identity.
Enter all addresses you have lived at over the past three years. This is used for identity verification. Have your address history ready before you start, the form does not save progress if you navigate away.
Enter your new address and postcode carefully, this will be printed on your new photocard. Confirm the details and submit. The DVLA processes most online applications and posts a new photocard within one to two weeks.
Can you use the online service? You cannot update online if you have a pre-1998 paper driving licence, if you are currently disqualified from driving, or if you want to change your name at the same time as your address. All three require a postal application instead.
How do you change your driving licence address by post?
Postal applications are slower but necessary in certain situations, if you have a paper licence, want to change your name, or prefer not to use the online service. Allow three to four weeks for postal processing.
Use the D741 slip that came with your current photocard licence if you still have it. If not, collect a D1 form from any Post Office, or order one from gov.uk/dvlaforms. Lorry or bus licence holders should use the D2 form instead.
Fill in your new address in block capitals. Do not include your National Insurance number or financial details on the form, the DVLA specifically advises against this for security reasons.
Post the completed form together with your current photocard to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN. Send by recorded delivery and keep your proof of postage. A standard address change by post is free.
Postal applications typically take three to four weeks but may take longer during busy periods. You can drive normally in the meantime. If your new licence has not arrived after six weeks, contact the DVLA.
| Method | Where | Available | New licence arrives | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence | 24/7 | 1 to 2 weeks | Free |
| Post (D741 or D1 form) | DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN | Any time | 3 to 4 weeks | Free |
| DVLA contact centre | 0300 790 6801 | Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–2pm | Guidance only, apply online or by post | Free call |
What if you want to change your name at the same time?
If you want to update both your name and address at the same time, you must apply by post. The online service handles address changes only and cannot process a simultaneous name change.
To change both name and address together, use a D1 form available from a Post Office or from gov.uk/dvlaforms. Include your current photocard licence and the original supporting document confirming your name change, a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, decree absolute, or enrolled deed poll. Send everything to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN by recorded delivery. There is no separate fee for the address change when it is included in a name change application. Check the current fee for the name change itself on GOV.UK, as this varies.
Send originals securely. Marriage certificates and deed polls sent by standard post risk being lost. Always use Royal Mail Special Delivery when sending original documents to the DVLA. Your documents will be returned separately once the new licence is issued.
What if you want to renew your photo at the same time?
Photocard driving licences expire every ten years for the photo, even if the licence itself remains valid for driving. If your photocard photo is due for renewal and you are also changing your address, you can combine both at the same time online.
Renewing your photo alongside an address change costs £14 online. This fee is waived for drivers aged 70 or over and those holding a medical short-period licence. Update your address first if the photo renewal is not yet due, there is no benefit to paying £14 ahead of schedule.
What if you have a pre-1998 paper driving licence?
Paper driving licences issued before 1998 cannot be updated using the GOV.UK online service. If you hold a paper licence and need to update your address, you must apply by post to exchange it for a current photocard licence at the same time.
To do this, complete a D1 form available from Post Offices or gov.uk/dvlaforms. Include your paper licence, a current passport-style photograph, and any required identity documents. Post everything to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN. There is no fee for exchanging a paper licence for a photocard when done as part of an address update. The DVLA will issue a current photocard licence showing your new address.
What if you live in Northern Ireland?
Driving licences in Northern Ireland are managed by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), not the DVLA. The GOV.UK online service at gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence does not apply to Northern Ireland licence holders.
To update your driving licence address in Northern Ireland, visit nidirect.gov.uk/dvani or contact the DVA directly. The process and forms differ from the DVLA system. Vehicle registration records and V5C logbook changes, however, are still handled by the DVLA even for Northern Ireland residents, so a move within Northern Ireland still requires a DVLA notification for any vehicles you are registered keeper of.
How long does a driving licence address change take?
- Online: Most applications are processed within one to two weeks. The DVLA posts your new photocard licence to your updated address once the change is applied.
- By post: Three to four weeks in normal circumstances. During busy periods this may extend further. If your new licence has not arrived within six weeks of posting, contact the DVLA on 0300 790 6801.
- Can you drive while waiting? Yes. You can drive normally while your application is being processed. The DVLA updates its records when your application is received, so you are not in breach of the law during that window. Keep any confirmation of your submitted application as evidence.
Is your V5C logbook also updated when you change your licence address?
No. This is one of the most important points to understand when moving home as a vehicle owner. Your driving licence and your V5C vehicle registration certificate are two completely separate DVLA records. Updating one does not update the other. Both are legal requirements and both carry fines of up to £1,000 if not kept current.
After updating your driving licence address online, you must separately update your V5C logbook at gov.uk/change-address-v5c. This is also free, also takes around five minutes, and results in a new V5C arriving within five working days. For the full process, see our V5C logbook change of address guide.
Two separate updates, two separate fines. Many drivers update their driving licence and assume their vehicle records are covered. They are not. The DVLA operates these as distinct systems. If you own a vehicle, both updates are required on moving day.
Notifying all your other providers when you move
Your driving licence and V5C logbook need to be updated directly through the DVLA's own GOV.UK service. But the DVLA is one organisation on a much longer list. Your bank, HMRC, your council, your energy supplier, your GP, your dentist, your car insurer, your pension provider, all of them need your new address, and none of them share information with each other or with the DVLA.
An outdated address with any of these organisations can lead to missed post, identity fraud risk, incorrect tax records, or financial penalties. Research shows that 23% of home movers take at least two weeks to start notifying providers after moving day, and post arriving at a former address during that window is one of the main routes for previous occupier fraud.
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What happens if you do not update your driving licence when you move?
The consequences fall into three areas.
Legal penalty
Failing to keep your driving licence address accurate is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The DVLA can issue a fine of up to £1,000. This is enforced and the DVLA does issue penalties for out-of-date licence details.
Missed DVLA correspondence
The DVLA sends important notices to the address on your licence record. These include vehicle tax renewal reminders, penalty charge notices, and any compliance communications. If these go to your old address and you miss a vehicle tax renewal, your vehicle becomes unlicensed, which carries an automatic £80 fine and can result in clamping or removal of your vehicle.
Identity and insurance issues
Your driving licence is one of the most commonly used identity documents in the UK. Lenders, letting agents, and employers use it to verify both identity and address. If the address on your licence does not match your current address, it can cause complications in credit checks, rental applications, and employment verification. Car insurance premiums are also calculated partly on the basis of where the car is kept overnight, which ties to your registered address. An outdated licence address creates a discrepancy that could affect your insurer's records.
Post from the DVLA arriving at an old address also creates a risk of previous occupier fraud. A driving licence number, date of birth, and address visible on correspondence at a property you no longer occupy gives a fraudster useful information for identity theft.
Quick summary: driving licence change of address
- Online: gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence, free, available 24/7, takes around 5 minutes
- You need: photocard licence number, new address, 3 years of address history, NI number (helpful)
- New photocard arrives in 1 to 2 weeks online; 3 to 4 weeks by post
- Post to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN, use D741 slip or D1 form, send by recorded delivery
- You can drive normally while waiting for your new licence
- Name change at the same time: must be done by post, not online
- Photo renewal at the same time: £14 online (free for over-70s and medical short-period licence holders)
- Pre-1998 paper licence: must apply by post to exchange for a photocard
- Northern Ireland: contact the DVA at nidirect.gov.uk/dvani, not the DVLA
- Your V5C logbook must be updated separately, see our V5C logbook change of address guide
- Failure to update: fine up to £1,000 under the Road Traffic Act 1988
- DVLA contact centre: 0300 790 6801, Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–2pm
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions about changing your driving licence address when moving home.
Go to gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence. The service is free and available 24 hours a day. You need your photocard licence, your new address, and all addresses from the past three years. A new photocard arrives within one to two weeks. Postal applications using a D1 form take three to four weeks, send to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN.
Yes. Changing your driving licence address through the official GOV.UK service is completely free. The only fee is £14 if you choose to renew your photocard photo at the same time, this is free for drivers aged 70 or over and those with a medical short-period licence. Never pay a third-party website to do this. The official service is always free.
Failing to update your driving licence address is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and can result in a fine of up to £1,000. You may also miss vehicle tax reminders and other important DVLA correspondence, which can lead to further penalties including your vehicle becoming unlicensed.
Online applications are typically processed within one to two weeks and a new photocard is posted to your new address. Postal applications take three to four weeks. You can drive normally while waiting. If your new licence has not arrived after six weeks, contact the DVLA on 0300 790 6801.
Yes. Your driving licence address and your V5C vehicle logbook address are two completely separate DVLA records. Updating one does not update the other. Both are legal requirements and both carry fines of up to £1,000 if not kept current. Update your driving licence at gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence and your V5C separately at gov.uk/change-address-v5c. See our V5C logbook change of address guide for the full process.
Yes, in most cases. The GOV.UK online service is available 24/7 and is free. You cannot use the online service if you have a pre-1998 paper driving licence, if you are currently disqualified from driving, or if you also want to change your name at the same time as your address. All three require a postal application instead.
A name change cannot be done online. You must apply by post using a D1 form, including your current photocard, the original supporting document (marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, decree absolute or enrolled deed poll), and any required identity documents. Send by recorded delivery to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN. The address change is included in the same application, you do not need to submit two separate forms.
You cannot use the GOV.UK online service with a paper licence. Complete a D1 form from a Post Office or gov.uk/dvlaforms. Include your paper licence, a passport-style photograph, and any required identity documents. Post to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN. There is no fee for the address change and the DVLA will issue a current photocard licence showing your new address.
Driving licences in Northern Ireland are managed by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), not the DVLA. Visit nidirect.gov.uk/dvani or contact the DVA directly to update your licence address. Vehicle registration and V5C logbook changes, however, are still handled by the DVLA even for Northern Ireland residents.
Yes. You can drive normally while your updated photocard is being processed and posted. The DVLA updates its records when your application is received. Keep any confirmation of your submitted application as evidence that the change is in progress, in case you are asked to produce it.
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