Renew Your Driving Licence

There are 3 different ways you can renew your driving licence if it is due to expire. Driving licences expire every 10 years and you will receive a reminder before it runs out.

Renewing Your Licence Online

If you want to renew your driving licence online, you need to have a valid British passport. There are also other exclusions that apply and you won’t be able to go ahead renewing your licence online if:

• You have changed your name- you will need to apply by post
• You are trying to renew your 5 year bus or lorry licence
• The DVLA is unable to use the photo and signature from your passport for your new driving licence

In order to go through with an online application for renewing your driving licence, you will need to:

• Have a valid British passport
• Be considered a resident of Great Britain — please note there is a different service offered for those in Northern Ireland
• Have a credit or debit card that can make a payment of £20
• Be able to provide the addresses of where you have lived for the last 3 years
• Have your current driving licence — including the paper counterpart if you’ve got a photo card licence
• Have your national insurance number to hand
• Not have any disqualifications from driving for any reason

If you apply to renewing your driving licence online, your new licence should arrive within a week. When you receive your new licence, you must send your old version, along with the paper counterpart back to the DVLA.

Your new licence is valid from the date that your application gets approved on, not the date your current licence expires.

Making An Online Application

You need to use your Government Gateway ID to make an online application to get your renewed driving licence. If you don’t already have one or you need to re-register, you will receive one as part of your application

Renewing Your Licence Through The Post Office

You will receive a renewal form – also known as D798 – that will list the closest Post Offices to you that you can go to to renew your licence.

You can’t make a renewal application at the Post Office if your name has changed. You will need to take these with you when you want to submit your form:

• The D798 renewal form, fully completed
• Your photo card licence and the paper counterpart if you have got them
• The £20 fee

There is also a further £4.50 charge from the Post Office for processing your application. You should receive your new driving licence within 3 weeks time, although it may take longer if there are medical or personal details to check over.

Renewing Your Licence By Post

To make a postal application, you will need to complete the D798 form and send:

• A new passport style photo that has been taken in the last month — there is no need to sign the back of the photo
• Your current photo card and paper counterpart driving licence — if you have lost either part, you will need to tick the correct box on the D798 form
• A cheque or postal order for the value of £20 that is payable to the DVLA — you don’t need to include a fee if you have a medical short period licence or your over the age of 70)

If you have changed your name, you will need to include the relevant identity documents. Then send all these parts of your application to:

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1DH

You should receive your licence in 3 weeks. It may take longer if your medical or personal details need to get checked