How to change the address on your driving licence
Change the address on your driving licence online with DVLA: it is free, your new licence should arrive within a week, and you can keep driving while you wait. You must do it when you move, or risk a fine of up to £1,000. Your car’s log book (V5C) is a separate update.
Last updated 16 Oct 2026 · Joel Lister, founder of Radar
Who this is for: anyone in Great Britain who has moved home and holds a full or provisional driving licence, or keeps a vehicle.
Who it is not for: drivers in Northern Ireland, which has its own process, or anyone changing their name at the same time, which has to be done by post.
| What | Cost | How long | If you don’t | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driving licence (full or provisional) | Free | About a week online | Fine of up to £1,000 | GOV.UK |
| Vehicle log book (V5C) | Usually free | Contact DVLA if it has not arrived after 4 weeks | Fine of up to £1,000 | GOV.UK |
Changing it online
- Sign in to DVLA’s service on GOV.UK. You may need to prove your identity, usually with photo ID such as a passport or driving licence (GOV.UK).
- Have your driving licence to hand, and your new address.
- Keep driving. You can still drive while you wait for the new licence (GOV.UK).
Then the log book
The V5C is a separate update: you must change the address on it if you change address, it is usually free, and you can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA (GOV.UK). If the new log book has not arrived after 4 weeks, contact DVLA.
The rest of the move
DVLA is two of a dozen things to update when you move. The moving house checklist lists the rest: the council, HMRC, the electoral register, your energy supplier and your GP.
What Radar does with this
- Life setup asks: “When does your driving licence photocard expire?” The photo needs renewing every 10 years. The date is in section 4b on the card. Radar reminds you 60 days ahead.
- Life setup asks: “When is your car’s next MOT due?” It’s on your last MOT certificate, or on gov.uk’s MOT checker by registration. Radar reminds you a month ahead so there’s time to book. Radar reminds you 30 days ahead.
- Put the move on your Radar with the DVLA updates beside it, and Life setup keeps the licence photocard’s ten-year renewal and the MOT coming back to you in good time.
Radar reads the calendars, task lists and CRM you connect, and the dates you give it. It writes back only when you press a button, and it never sends anything by itself.
Limitations and status
- Great Britain only: Northern Ireland has its own process.
- Radar does not contact DVLA for you. It holds the dates you give it and reminds you of them.
Also free: Radar Lite, the habit tracker on its own, for you and anyone 13 or over in the family.
Questions
Does it cost anything to change the address on my driving licence?
No. It does not cost anything to change your address with DVLA. (GOV.UK)
Can I drive while I wait for my new licence?
Yes. You can still drive while you are waiting for your new licence. (GOV.UK)
What happens if I don’t update my address?
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA when your address changes, for your licence and for your vehicle’s log book. (GOV.UK)
Do I need to update my log book too?
Yes. You must update your vehicle log book (V5C) if you change your address; it is usually free. (GOV.UK)
Sources
- Change the address on your driving licence, read 16 Oct 2026
- Change the address on your vehicle log book (V5C), read 15 Oct 2026
Written by Joel Lister, founder of Radar · first published 16 Oct 2026. Radar is made by Neos Technologies Ltd.