How to Update Your Driving Licence
21 May 2025 |
Chris Penfold
Not sure how to update your driving licence details? Whether you’ve moved house, changed your name, need a new photo, or your licence has expired, here’s everything you need to know about keeping your driving licence up to date, plus why it matters, and how it could impact your ability to get instant temporary car insurance.
Why You Need to Keep Your Licence Details Up to Date
Keeping your driving licence up to date isn’t just good admin – it’s a legal requirement. If you don’t notify the DVLA of changes like a new address, you could be fined up to £1,000.
It can also affect your car insurance. Insurers may invalidate your policy if your licence doesn’t match your current details, which could leave you uninsured – a serious offence that carries up to 6 penalty points and may push up your premium.
Having an out-of-date licence also makes getting an insurance quote more difficult. If the details you enter don’t match your licence, you may not be able to get cover at all. Our temporary insurance only takes a couple of minutes to set up – but only if the information you provide is accurate and up to date.
How to Change the Address on Your Driving Licence
It’s quick and free to update your licence address online at gov.uk. You can also apply by post or update it at selected Post Office branches.
To change your licence address, you’ll need:
- Your driving licence
- National Insurance number
- Passport number
- To be a resident of Great Britain (Northern Ireland has a different process)
- A record of your addresses from the past 3 years
- To be eligible to drive (i.e. not banned)
You can still drive while you wait for your new licence to arrive.
Don’t forget: When you change your driving licence address, you’ll also need to update:
- Your vehicle log book (V5C)
- Any vehicle tax Direct Debit
- Your personalised registration certificate (V750/V778)
If you’re only temporarily moving (e.g. to university), you don’t need to update your address as long as you can still receive post at the one on your licence.
How to Update Other Licence Details
Need to update your photo or name? You can do most of it online at gov.uk too.
- New photo (on a licence valid for 2+ years): £14 online, £17 by post, or £21.50 at the Post Office
- New photo (on a licence valid for under 2 years): Free (if changing your address too)
- Name change: Only possible by post
- Drivers aged 70+ or with a short-term medical licence: Free to update details
- Photo requirements: Must be passport-style and recent
Photocard licences need renewing every 10 years (or every 3 years if you’re over 70). You’ll get a reminder from the DVLA when it’s time to renew.
Renewing Your Driving Licence
You can renew your driving licence up to 90 days before it expires. Once submitted, your new licence usually arrives within a week.
Important: You can’t drive if your licence has expired. If it still hasn’t arrived after 3 weeks, contact the DVLA. Once your new licence arrives, destroy the old one or return it to the address on your application.
Whatever detail you’re updating – whether it’s your address, name, or photo – make sure your licence reflects your current information. Not only does it keep you road legal, but it helps protect your car insurance too.
Once your details are sorted, you’ll be ready to drive with confidence. Need cover in the meantime? Whether you’ve got a provisional or full licence, you can get temporary cover with us, get a quick quote today and hit the road.
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