Last checked: 6 October 2026
You must renew a photocard driving licence every 10 years. It costs £14 online, and the new licence should arrive within a week. At 70 you must renew, then every 3 years, and that’s free. Lorry and bus entitlement is renewed every 5 years, and every year from 65. Enter your dates below to see exactly when yours is due.
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Based on GOV.UK rules for licences issued in Great Britain. Check your exact dates with DVLA’s view your driving licence service. Nothing you enter is sent or saved.
How often you need to renew
| Licence | How often | Cost | Reminder from DVLA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car or motorcycle photocard, under 70 | Every 10 years | £14 online, £17 by post, £21.50 at a Post Office | A reminder before your licence ends |
| At 70 | You must renew | Free | Form D46P, 90 days before your 70th birthday |
| 70 and over | Every 3 years | Free | Form D46P, 90 days before it expires |
| Lorry or bus entitlement | Every 5 years, every year from 65 | Free | Form D47PU, 56 days before it runs out |
Where to find your expiry date
Each field on a photocard licence is numbered. As nidirect’s photocard guide explains, section 4a is the date the photocard was issued and section 4b is the date it expires. If you can’t find your licence, GOV.UK’s view your driving licence service shows your details online.
How to renew your driving licence
To renew, you must live in Great Britain and not be disqualified from driving. There are three ways to do it if you’re under 70.
Online: £14
This is the quickest option: your new licence should arrive within a week. You sign in to the GOV.UK service, and you’ll be told if you need to prove your identity, which usually involves photo ID such as a passport or driving licence. You pay by debit or credit card.
Your new licence is valid from the date your application is approved, not from the expiry date of your current one. When it arrives, you must send your old photocard back to DVLA; you’ll be given the address at the end of the application.
You can’t renew online if your name, title or signature has changed. A changed signature means applying by post or at a Post Office, and a changed name or title means applying by post.
At a Post Office: £21.50
Take your reminder letter and your photocard licence to a Post Office that handles DVLA photocard renewals. If you don’t have the reminder, you’ll need your photocard. You can’t use this route if your name has changed.
By post: £17
Get a D1 pack of forms from a Post Office that deals with DVLA photocard renewal or vehicle tax. Send the completed forms with a recent printed passport-type photo (don’t sign the back), your current photocard and a cheque or postal order for £17 payable to DVLA. Include identity documents if you’ve changed your name.
How long does it take?
Online, your licence should arrive within a week. At a Post Office or by post, it should arrive within 3 weeks, and it might take longer if your medical or personal details need to be checked. GOV.UK says you can keep driving while you wait for the new licence to arrive.
Renewing at 70 and over
Renewal is free once you’re 70, and you must renew every 3 years after that. You can renew online if you’re 70 or will be in the next 90 days, and:
- your licence has expired or expires within 90 days
- you live in Great Britain
- you meet the minimum eyesight requirement
- you’re not prevented from driving for any reason
You can change your licence photo at the same time. DVLA automatically sends form D46P 90 days before your 70th birthday or before your licence expires; if you don’t have it, use form D1 from most Post Offices. To keep C1 (medium-sized vehicle) or D1 (minibus) entitlement, you must renew by post.
You can usually keep driving while DVLA has your application if your doctor supports you driving, you had a valid licence, you only drive under the conditions of that licence, your application is less than a year old and you’re not disqualified. GOV.UK lists the full conditions.
Renewing a lorry or bus licence
DVLA sends form D47PU 56 days before your lorry or bus entitlement runs out, and renewing is free. Send the completed form to DVLA with your current licence. If the form doesn’t arrive, get a D2 pack from a Post Office that offers DVLA services. There’s a separate process for drivers 45 and over if your licence runs out within 56 days of your 45th birthday, and if you want to stop driving lorries but keep driving cars, you fill in section 2B of the D47PU.
Lorry and bus drivers renew every 5 years, then every year from 65. Our guide to the class 2 licence covers getting the entitlement in the first place.
Short-term medical licences and Northern Ireland
If you have a 1, 2, 3 or 5-year licence because of a medical condition, there’s a separate renewal service and no fee. Licences issued in Northern Ireland are renewed through a different service on nidirect.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to renew a driving licence?
£14 online, £17 by post or £21.50 at a Post Office. It’s free if you’re 70 or over, or have a short-term medical licence.
How long does a driving licence renewal take?
Online, it should arrive within a week. By post or at a Post Office, it should arrive within 3 weeks, or longer if your details need checking.
Can I renew my UK driving licence online?
Yes, if you live in Great Britain and aren’t disqualified. You can’t renew online if your name, title or signature has changed.
Do I have to pay to renew my licence at 70?
No. Renewing at 70 and over is free, and you renew every 3 years.
Can I drive while my licence is being renewed?
GOV.UK says you can continue driving while you wait for your new licence. At 70 and over, there are extra conditions, such as having your doctor’s support to keep driving.
Sources: GOV.UK Renew your driving licence, Renew your driving licence if you’re 70 or over, Renew your lorry, bus or coach licence, Renew your short-term medical driving licence and Become a lorry or bus driver; nidirect The photocard driving licence explained.