Driving licence renewal: when, how much, and at 70
You must renew a photocard driving licence every 10 years. It costs £14 online and should arrive within a week; £17 by post or £21.50 at a Post Office. From 70 you renew every 3 years, free online. DVLA sends a reminder before your licence ends.
Last updated 16 Oct 2026 · Joel Lister, founder of Radar
Who this is for: anyone in Great Britain with a photocard driving licence, including drivers turning 70.
Who it is not for: changing the address on your licence (see the change of address guide), or a licence from Northern Ireland, which has its own service.
| Under 70 | 70 and over | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How often | Every 10 years | Every 3 years | GOV.UK, GOV.UK |
| Online | £14, should arrive within a week | Free | GOV.UK, GOV.UK |
| By post | £17 | Free, within 3 weeks | GOV.UK, GOV.UK |
| At a Post Office | £21.50 | — | GOV.UK |
| Reminder | Before your licence ends | Form D46P, 90 days before your 70th birthday or the expiry | GOV.UK, GOV.UK |
When does my driving licence expire?
The expiry date is field 4b on the front of the photocard (the licence’s layout, Directive 2006/126/EC). It needs renewing every 10 years, and DVLA sends a reminder before it ends (GOV.UK). DVLA has warned that drivers who do not renew risk a fine of up to £1,000 (DVLA, on GOV.UK).
How to renew
Online is cheapest and quickest: sign in, which usually means using photo ID such as a passport, pay £14, and the new licence should arrive within a week. By post it is £17, by cheque or postal order to DVLA; at a Post Office it is £21.50 (GOV.UK, GOV.UK).
Renewing at 70 and over
Once you reach 70 you must renew every 3 years, and it is free. DVLA sends form D46P 90 days before your 70th birthday or before your licence expires; by post a licence should arrive within 3 weeks, longer if medical or personal details need checking. You can keep driving while it is renewed if you meet DVLA’s conditions, including your doctor’s support and an application less than a year old (GOV.UK).
Moving house too? Changing the address on your licence is free.
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 your photocard expires, puts the renewal on your Radar two months ahead, and brings it round again ten years on.
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
- Radar reminds you of the date; it does not renew the licence.
- Northern Ireland licences are renewed through nidirect, not DVLA.
Also free: Radar Lite, the habit tracker on its own, for you and anyone 13 or over in the family.
Questions
How often do I need to renew my driving licence?
Every 10 years for the photocard, and every 3 years once you are 70. (GOV.UK, GOV.UK)
How much does it cost to renew a driving licence?
£14 online, £17 by post, £21.50 at a Post Office, and free if you are 70 or over. (GOV.UK, GOV.UK)
How long does a driving licence renewal take?
Online, the new licence should arrive within a week. At 70 and over by post, within 3 weeks. (GOV.UK, GOV.UK)
Where is the expiry date on my driving licence?
Field 4b on the front of the photocard. (Directive 2006/126/EC, Annex I)
More guides
- Moving house checklist
- Change the address on your driving licence
- Council tax when you move
- TV Licence change of address
- Boiler service and gas safety
- How to test a smoke alarm
- Car maintenance checklist
- Car insurance renewal
Sources
- Renew your driving licence (GOV.UK), read 16 Oct 2026
- Renew your driving licence if you’re 70 or over (GOV.UK), read 16 Oct 2026
- Driving licence fees (GOV.UK), read 16 Oct 2026
- Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences, Annex I: the licence’s fields (legislation.gov.uk), read 16 Oct 2026
- Motorists reminded of the importance in renewing their photocard driving licences (DVLA, GOV.UK news), read 16 Oct 2026
Written by Joel Lister, founder of Radar · first published 16 Oct 2026. Radar is made by Neos Technologies Ltd.