When’s the last time you looked to see if the information on your driving licence is correct? It’s worth checking, because out-of-date details could result in you being landed with a large fine of up to £1,000.
More than 2 million of us are driving around with incorrect personal information on our licences. It’s free and pretty straightforward to update your details, so none of us has any excuse for avoiding this piece of essential admin.
Here’s our rundown of the most important things you need to know and do:
- When do I need to update my driving licence?
- What details should I update?
- How do I renew my driving licence?
- When will I get my new licence?
When do I need to update my driving licence?
Your photocard driving licence lasts ten years. You can renew them online (currently £14) or by post (£17). You can also renew at a Post Office, which costs £21.50 (including the cost of the photos, which they take and send to the DVLA). So not only is updating a means to remain compliant with the DVLA, it’s also the perfect opportunity to get rid of that dreaded mugshot you’ve been stuck with for years.
You’ll find the expiry date in section 4b on the front of the card, and you’ll also be sent a reminder from the DVLA. There’s no charge if you’re over 70.
The bit we all forget to do is change our personal details. You need to update your licence if any of these change. It's worth doing to avoid a fine, even if you only have a few months to go before it expires.
What details should I update?
You must update your licence if:
- Your name changes (due to marriage, gender transition, or if you’ve changed your name by deed poll).
- Your title changes, for example you’ve been ordained or been awarded your PhD.
- You’ve moved house - update your address as soon as you can.
If you look at the front of your photo licence, the information is numbered. These are the sections you need to check:
- Surname
- Title and first name(s)
- Expiry date
- Home address
And you’ll be glad to hear there’s no charge for making these changes.
How do you renew your driving licence?
You’ll need a D1 form. You can get one by post from the DVLA, pick one up at a Post Office, or fill it in online. You’ll also need to send supporting documents if your details have changed.
You’ll need to send the original documents to the DVLA.
Here's what you need to send for different changes:
- Name change – Send your marriage/civil partnership certificate, decree nisi or absolute (along with your birth/adoption certificate), a deed poll or a statutory declaration.
- Title change – Proof of your new title.
- Gender change – Send your gender recognition certificate, a deed poll, or a statutory declaration.
- Address change – Have your licence, National Insurance and passport numbers to hand.
You can find out more about what documents you need on the DVLA website.
If you’ve made any of these changes, remember to update your vehicle’s log book (V5C certificate). For a change of address, you’ll need to send your log book to the DVLA to be processed.
When will I get my new licence?
It usually takes between one and three weeks for your new licence to arrive in the post. In the meantime, you can still drive as normal.
That little bit of admin that could save you £1,000!
But your car-related admin doesn’t stop there quite there. As postcodes affect your vehicle insurance quote, it’s important to keep your insurer up to date and check the cover you’ve got still suits your needs, too.
