Lost Your Provisional Licence? How to Replace It in the UK

Last checked: 19 September 2026

Losing a provisional licence is annoying, but the replacement itself is quick and cheap. The real risk is timing. You need your licence with you for both the theory test and the driving test, and if you turn up without it, your test is cancelled and you lose the fee. So the order you do things in matters more than you might think.

This guide covers licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Northern Ireland has a separate service.

What to do first

Before you apply, run through these steps in order:

1. Check it’s really gone. A replacement costs £20, and if the old one turns up afterwards you have to send it back, so a proper search first is worth it.
2. If it was stolen, contact the police. GOV.UK advises doing this for a stolen licence. Keep the crime reference number and the officer’s name, because you may need them to get a refund on a theory test you have to move.
3. Check your test dates. If you have a theory or driving test coming up, work out whether a replacement will arrive in time. If not, move the test now, before the notice period runs out.
4. Apply for a replacement. Do this straight away, online if you can.

How much does a replacement licence cost?

Replacing a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed licence costs £20. That’s the same whether it’s a provisional or a full licence. Online, you pay by Mastercard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card. The fee for postal applications is shown on the form.

As with a first provisional licence, only use the official GOV.UK service. Unofficial websites may charge more for the same application.

How to replace your licence online

To use the online service, you must live in Great Britain and not be disqualified from driving. Then:

1. Go to the replace a driving licence service on GOV.UK and sign in, or create sign-in details.
2. Prove your identity if you’re asked to. This usually involves photo ID such as a passport.
3. Confirm your details and pay the £20 fee.
4. Look out for the confirmation email from DVLA.
5. Your new licence should arrive within a week.

You don’t need the old paper counterpart, which DVLA no longer uses. If you applied for your last provisional licence before 1 March 1973, you need to apply for a first provisional licence instead. Our guide to applying for a provisional licence explains how.

Replacing your licence by phone or post

If you can’t use the online service, there are two other routes:

Route	Who can use it	How long it takes
Online	GB residents who aren’t disqualified	Within a week
Phone	Photocard licence holders whose details haven’t changed	Contact DVLA for details
Post (form D1 for a car or motorbike licence)	Anyone, including if your name has changed	About 3 weeks

You can’t replace your licence by phone if it’s damaged, or if it expires in less than 56 days (90 days if it’s expiring for medical reasons). For a lorry or bus licence, the postal form is D2 instead of D1. Both forms are available from most Post Offices.

If your name has changed, include original documents confirming it. If you still have an old paper licence rather than a photocard, you’ll also need to send original identity documents and a passport-type photo.

Lost your licence before a theory or driving test?

This is where losing a licence gets expensive. You must bring your licence to both tests, and GOV.UK warns that a replacement could take up to 15 days to arrive. If you don’t have it on the day, your test is cancelled and you don’t get your money back.

Test	What happens without your licence	Notice needed to move it without paying again
Theory test (£23)	Test cancelled, fee lost	At least 3 full working days
Car driving test (£62 weekdays)	Test cancelled, fee lost	At least 10 full working days

Our advice: if your test is less than about two weeks away, don’t wait to see whether the replacement arrives in time. Move the test while you can still do it for free. Monday to Saturday count as working days, but Sundays and public holidays don’t.

If your licence was stolen and you have to change a theory test at short notice, you may be able to get a refund. You’ll need to email DVSA with a crime reference number and the name of the police officer. The full process is on the change your theory test page, and our theory test cost guide covers when you’d pay again. For the practical test, see our driving test cost guide.

What if you find your old licence?

It happens more often than you’d think. If your old licence turns up after you’ve applied for or received a replacement, you must send it back to DVLA with a note explaining what happened. The address is:

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AB

Don’t keep using the old licence. Once a replacement has been issued, the new one is the licence you should carry.

Checking your licence details while you wait

Losing the card doesn’t change the information DVLA holds about you. You can still view your driving record online, including which vehicles you can drive and any penalty points. You can also create a check code if a car hire company or employer needs to see your record. The code lasts for 21 days, and our guide to sharing your driving licence explains how it works.

To use the view or share your driving licence information service, you’ll need your driving licence number, your National Insurance number and the postcode on your licence.

GOV.UK doesn’t set out specific guidance on driving while a lost licence is being replaced. If you’re unsure, for example because you’re a learner with lessons booked, contact DVLA before you drive.

Lost your licence in Northern Ireland?

Licences in Northern Ireland are issued by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), which has its own replacement service and fees. You’ll find the details on nidirect.

If your test is coming up, see what to bring to your driving test for the full checklist.

Sources: Replace a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed driving licence, Driving licence fees, Theory test: what to take, Driving test: what to take, Change your theory test and View or share your driving licence information, all on GOV.UK.