How to change my address on my driving licence

Moved house and need to let the DVLA know? We can help

Changing the address on your driving licence is an important thing to remember when moving house – not least as you could end up with a £1,000 fine if you fail to do so.

Fortunately changing the address on your driving licence – whether you have a full or provisional one – is free, easy, and only takes a few minutes online – although you can also do it by post, if you prefer. We’ll talk you through all the options.

Change the address on my driving licence online

1. First, you’ll want to head to the Government’s official website set up specifically for this task (note there’s a separate site for people who live in Northern Ireland), and this site will then take you to the online tool, which is run by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
2. You’ll need to enter your name, gender, date of birth and country of birth on the first page, clicking through to the next page when you’ve completed this.
3. You will then be asked for your driving licence number as well as all the addresses you have lived at for the past three years.
4. You will also be asked to provide your National Insurance number and passport number, if you have these.
5. Once you have completed the online form you should receive a confirmation email from the DVLA, with your new licence coming through in the post within roughly seven working days.

You can continue to drive while you wait for a new licence to be issued. Note that you don’t need to change the address on your licence if you’ve living away from home temporarily – for example if you live at university or college during term time.

Once your new licence has arrived, you’ll also need to cut your old one in half and post it back to the DVLA. It’s illegal to keep hold of the old one, and doing so can result in a £1,000 fine.

Change the address on my driving licence by post

While changing the address on your driving licence is easier and quicker online, you can do so via post as well.

1. You’ll need either the D741 form that came with your photocard driving licence, or you can get a D1 form (D2 if you drive a bus or lorry) from the post office. You used to be able to download the D1 and D2, but they’re now only available from Post Offices
2. Fill out the form (it asks you to detail such things as your name, address, sex, DoB, and eyesight quality) and send it, along with your old licence, to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN.
3. If you have an old-style paper driving licence, you’ll need to upgrade to a photocard driving licence at the same time. To do this, include a passport photograph with the D1 form, including your passport number on the form. If you don’t have a passport there are other ways to prove your identity, which the Government’s website details.

Changing your address by post takes three weeks or so, making it easier and quicker to use the online service.

Update my address on other vehicle documents

Changing the address on your driving licence doesn’t automatically change the address any cars you own are registered to – you will need to do this separately.

As with changing your address on your licence, it is a legal requirement to change the address your car is registered to if you have moved house.

• Again, this can be done online or by post; you’ll need the car’s registration, and the document reference number from the V5C logbook.
• If you pay for your road tax by monthly direct debit you’ll need to change your address for this, too. Fortunately there’s an easy Government portal for this as well.
• People with a personalised number plate will also need to use the Gov portal to change their address for this.
• Finally, if you have a trailer registered to your address and want to continue to be able to take it abroad, you’ll need to update your address for this, too – again, using the Gov website.

What happens if I don’t change my driving licence address?

Not changing the address on your driving licence can result in a hefty fine of up to £1,000 if you’re caught. It can also cause issues with your insurance, because the address you give your insurance provider needs to match the one on your licence. If it doesn’t, your insurance may be invalidated.

Having the wrong address on your licence can be a problem if you’re pulled over by the police or involved in an accident, because they’ll need to make a note of your address and you’ll have no way to prove what it actually is.

Change my address on my driving licence FAQs

How to change the address on a provisional driving licence

The process for changing the address on your provisional licence is the same as a standard licence. You can do it online or by post, and you can continue to drive while you wait for the new one to arrive.

How much does it cost to change the address on my driving licence?

Changing the address on your driving licence is completely free, however you will have to pay for postage to return your old driving licence to the DVLA.

How do I change my name on my driving licence?

Changing your name on your driving licence can only be done by post. You’ll need to collect form D1 from your local post office, fill it out and send it back to the DVLA along with original documentation confirming your name and your old driving licence.

You’ll then be issued with a new driving licence, and your original documents will also be returned to you, with the exception of your old licence.

Will I get fined for not changing my address on my driving licence?

Yes. Not changing the address on your driving licence can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Can I change my address over the phone with the DVLA?

You can’t change the address on your driving licence over the phone, it can only be done online or by post.

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