How to get your driving licence online and save money

When it comes to getting your driving licence, there are many options available to you. Whether by post, at the Post Office or online, the DVLA has provided these options to make the process as easy and accessible as possible for everyone.

Getting your licence after passing your test

As soon as you have passed your driving test your examiner will send the pass certificate to the DVLA and, if you already have your photocard provisional licence, and provided that you haven’t changed your name since you received this, your full driver’s licence will be sent to you via post within three weeks.

For those that have indeed changed their name, or only have a paper provisional license, you can only apply for your full driver’s licence by post. To do this you must fill in the declaration on your test pass certificate, fill in the ‘D1 application for driving licences’ which you can get from the DVLA or from some Post Offices. Following this you must then provide documentation that confirms your identity and send all documentation (including a recent passport photo if you only have a paper licence) to the DVLA.

Renewing your licence

If you are looking to renew your license, you have three options to apply: post, Post Office or online. Each option comes with its own cost (figures correct as of December 2019:

• Post – £17
• Post Office – £21.50
• Online – £14

Online is the cheapest, and arguably the easiest option for licence renewals. To do this, you will need to visit the GOV website – https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence

What do you need to renew your licence online?

In order to renew your licence online you cannot be disqualified from driving, and you must be a resident of Great Britain. Those living in Northern Ireland are required to renew through a separate system, found here – https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/renew-your-driving-licence. In addition to this, your application will require the following:

• A valid UK passport
• National Insurance number
• The addresses of each place you have lived within the past three years
• Your current driving licence

Once completed you should receive your new licence within a week.

For those over 70, a fee will not apply when renewing your licence; however, your licence renewal will be required every three years from this age.

Find out more about UK driving licences and renew yours online by visiting the GOV website here.