You can renew your driving licence online, by post, or in person at a Post Office — the method depends on your age and whether you need a new photo

The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) handles all UK driving licence renewals. Most people renew online through www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence, which takes about 10 minutes and costs £20. You'll need your current photocard licence, a valid passport or other identity document, and a recent colour photograph that meets the DVLA's photo standards. Online renewal is fastest — your new licence arrives within one week in most cases.

If you're over 70, have certain medical conditions, or your licence was lost or stolen, you cannot renew online and must use the postal or Post Office route instead. The Post Office option lets you hand in your process in person at any branch, which can be faster than posting it. Postal renewal takes longer — typically two to three weeks — because your documents travel by mail and the DVLA processes them manually.

You can renew your licence up to nine months before it expires. Starting the process early means you won't be caught out if there's a delay, and you'll have your new licence well before the expiry date on your current one.

Key Takeaways

  • Online renewal through www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence costs £20, takes about 10 minutes, and your new licence arrives within a week in most cases.
  • You cannot renew online if you're over 70, have held a licence for less than two years, or have certain medical conditions — you must use Post Office or postal renewal instead.
  • Post Office renewal lets you hand in your documents in person at any branch, which is faster than posting them but slower than online.
  • Your new licence is valid from the date you receive it, not from your old licence's expiry date, so renew early to avoid driving without a valid licence.
  • You need a colour photograph that meets DVLA standards — passport-style, taken within the last six months, with a plain background and your face clearly visible.

What you need before you start

Gather these documents before you begin any renewal method. You'll need your current photocard driving licence, a valid passport or national identity card, and a recent colour photograph. The photograph must be passport-style — taken within the last six months, with a plain background, your face clearly visible and taking up 70 to 80 per cent of the frame, and no glasses or sunglasses unless you wear them for medical reasons.

If you're renewing online, you'll also need to know your National Insurance number and your passport or identity document number. You'll answer questions about any medical conditions, driving offences, or changes to your name or address. If any of these have changed since your licence was issued, you must declare them — the DVLA will contact you if they need more information.

If you're renewing by post or at a Post Office, you'll need to fill in form D798 (process for a driving licence renewal). You can read this from www.gov.uk/government/publications/process-for-a-driving-licence-form-d798 or collect it from a Post Office. The form asks the same questions as the online version.

Renewing online through the DVLA website

Go to www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence and select "Renew your licence online". You'll be asked to prove your identity using either your passport or national identity card — the system reads the chip in your document to verify it's genuine. This takes a few minutes and happens on a find page.

Next, you'll upload your colour photograph. The website has a tool to check whether your photo meets the standards before you submit it — if the background is the wrong colour or your face is too small, it will tell you and ask you to take another. Once your photo is accepted, you'll answer questions about your health, any driving offences, and whether your name or address has changed.

Review your answers carefully before you submit. Once you've paid the £20 fee by debit or credit card, you cannot change your answers — if you spot a mistake, you'll need to contact the DVLA by phone or post. Your new licence will be printed and posted to you within one week in most cases, though it can take longer during busy periods.

Renewing by post or at a Post Office

If you cannot renew online, read form D798 from www.gov.uk/government/publications/process-for-a-driving-licence-form-d798 or collect it from any Post Office. Fill in the form by hand in black ink, using capital letters. Include your current photocard licence, a colour photograph, and a photocopy of one page of your passport or identity document showing your photo and personal details.

For Post Office renewal, take your completed form and documents to any Post Office branch. Staff will check that everything is filled in correctly and that your photograph meets the standards. They'll keep your documents and send them to the DVLA on your behalf. You'll pay £20 at the Post Office. This route usually takes one to two weeks from the date you hand in your process.

For postal renewal, send your completed form D798, your current licence, your photograph, and a photocopy of your identity document to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN. Include a cheque or postal order for £20 made payable to DVLA. Do not send cash. Postal renewal typically takes two to three weeks, and there's a small risk your documents could be lost in the post — consider using Special Delivery if you're concerned.

When you cannot renew online

You must use Post Office or postal renewal if you're over 70, because the DVLA requires a medical report from your GP before renewing your licence at that age. You'll need to ask your GP to complete form DVLA Med, which costs around £15 to £20 (this varies by practice). Send the completed form with your renewal process.

You also cannot renew online if you've held your current licence for less than two years, if you have certain medical conditions that affect your driving, or if your licence was lost, stolen, or damaged. If your licence was lost or stolen, you'll need to declare this on your process form and may need to provide a police crime reference number.

If your name has changed since your licence was issued — through marriage, deed poll, or other legal change — you can still renew online, but you must also send a certified copy of the document that proves the change (a marriage certificate, for example). The DVLA will contact you if they need to see this document before they issue your new licence.

What happens after you submit your renewal

Once you've renewed online, you'll receive a confirmation email. Your new licence will be posted to the address on your current licence. If you've moved house, update your address with the DVLA before you renew, or your new licence will go to your old address.

Your new licence is valid from the date you receive it, not from the expiry date of your old one. This means if your old licence expires before your new one arrives, you cannot legally drive. For this reason, renew at least two weeks before your licence expires — this gives you a safety margin in case there's a delay in the post.

If your new licence doesn't arrive within the expected timeframe, contact the DVLA. For online renewals, call 0300 790 6801 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm; Saturday, 8am to 4pm). For postal or Post Office renewals, allow the full processing time before contacting them, as delays are common during busy periods.

Renewing a licence that has already expired

If your licence has already expired, you cannot legally drive. You must renew it before you get behind the wheel again. The renewal process is the same — use www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence if you're may be able to access, or use Post Office or postal renewal if you're not.

Driving with an expired licence is an offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000. Your insurance may also be invalid if you're caught driving with an expired licence, which means you won't be covered if you have an accident. Renew as soon as you notice your licence has expired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive while I'm waiting for my new licence to arrive?

No. Your new licence is valid from the date you receive it, not from the date you applied. If your old licence has expired before your new one arrives, you cannot legally drive. This is why you should renew at least two weeks before your expiry date — it gives you time for the post to deliver your new licence before the old one runs out.

What if my photograph doesn't meet the DVLA standards?

If you're renewing online, the website will tell you when ready if your photo doesn't meet the standards — the background is the wrong colour, your face is too small, or you're wearing glasses. Take another photo and try again. If you're renewing by post or at a Post Office and your photo doesn't meet the standards, the DVLA will contact you and ask you to send a new one, which delays your renewal by several weeks.

Do I need to send my old licence back when I renew?

Yes. If you're renewing online, you'll receive a prepaid envelope with your new licence — put your old licence in this envelope and post it back to the DVLA. If you're renewing by post or at a Post Office, include your old licence with your process form. Once the DVLA receives your old licence, they'll destroy it.

What if I've changed my name since my licence was issued?

You can renew online, but you must also send a certified copy of the document that proves the change — a marriage certificate, deed poll, or court order. The DVLA will contact you if they need to see this before they issue your new licence. If you're renewing by post or at a Post Office, include the certified copy with your process form.

How much does it cost to renew my driving licence?

Renewal costs £20, whether you renew online, by post, or at a Post Office. If you're over 70 and need a medical report from your GP, your GP will charge separately for completing form DVLA Med — this typically costs £15 to £20, but varies by practice.