Whether you want to apply for your first provisional licence or exchange a paper licence for a photocard, apply for your tax disc or check the information DVLA holds about a particular vehicle, you can now do it online.
DVLA also runs general customer service telephone lines for driver licensing and vehicle registration/tax enquiries but many services, such as car tax application/renewal are available by telephone too.
Change of addressIf you've changed your address you must update your vehicle registration certificate (V5C) and send it to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BA. If you don't update your V5C, your tax reminder and any vehicle tax refunds will be sent to your previous address. If you’ve lost your V5C you must fill in an application for a replacement using Form V62 and send it to DVLA Swansea SA99 1BA with a cheque or postal order for £25 made payable to DVLA. A V62 can be downloaded from gov.uk or from the Post Office. It can take up to six weeks to get the new V5C. |
Beware third-party application processing/checking services
Don't get ripped off by official-looking third party 'copycat websites' that charge you to make changes to your driving licence that you could have made for nothing by dealing direct with DVLA.
Be wary of websites that appear in the top (Ads section) of an internet search and remember that official DVLA pages are all on the www.gov.uk website.
Examples of standard DVLA charges (January 2014) for licence-related changes
- Apply for a provisional licence – £34 online, £43 by post
- Change the address on a driving licence – free
- Change the name on a driving licence – free
- Renew your driving licence – £14 online, £17 by post
- Renew your driving licence if 70 or older – free
- Renew your driving licence for medical reasons – free
- Paper licence to photocard (no change of details) – £14 online, £17 by post
Check latest official driving licence fees >>
Beware scam emailsThe DVLA is warning of an email scam that asks drivers to verify their driving licence details via an online link. DVLA has not sent out an email asking customers to update or verify their details. If you receive one of these or any similar email, ignore it and do not follow the instructions given. By using the online driving licence or vehicle tax transactions on GOV.UK you can be sure that you are dealing directly with DVLA. (7 November 2014) |
DVLA services online
Buy a new personalised number from DVLA for your vehicle
dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk
Tax your vehicle or make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)
www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc
Vehicle Check – check DVLA records for vehicle details and tax rate
www.direct.gov.uk/vehiclecheck
Apply for a provisional driving licence
www.direct.gov.uk/provisional
Change the address on your driving licence
www.direct.gov.uk/changeofaddress
Replace your driving licence if lost, stolen or damaged
www.direct.gov.uk/replacelicence
Exchange from paper to a photo card licence
www.direct.gov.uk/exchangelicence
Renew your driving licence when you are 70 or over
www.direct.gov.uk/renewalat70
Renewing your photo on your driving licence
www.direct.gov.uk/photorenewal
Application forms to order or download
www.direct.gov.uk/motoringforms
Information leaflets to download
www.direct.gov.uk/motoringleaflets
Motoring leaflets covering a wide range of topics from driving tests to driver licensing and vehicle registration to vehicle taxation.
Includes:
- Driving a minibus
- Towing trailers
- Registering a kit car
- Transferring a number plate
- Historic vehicle exemption from vehicle excise duty
- A-frames and dollies (towing a car behind a motorhome)
Sharing your driving licence information
If you are hiring a car or applying for a job you may be asked to share your driving licence information i.e. to show your entitlements and any endorsements.
You will need to obtain a 'check code' which is valid for 21 days and which you can pass to whoever needs to view your driving licence.
Follow the instructions in the following guides (pdf) from DVLA:
(updated 5 March 2019)