In the UK, all drivers must update their driver’s licence whenever they change their address, name or photo. Failure to inform the DVLA of your changes will risk being slapped with a hefty fine. The charge for changing your title is free, but changing your address and photo driver’s licence costs £14. Generally, you can complete doing the process online or by sending application forms to the DVLA.
last Update: 4/30/2024
Changing address on UK driver’s licence
If you want to update your address on your licence, you do so by following the following procedures:
- Apply by post
- Apply online
Documents required:
- Your provisional driving permit
- Full driver’s licence
- Required documents
- Driving licence
- Address for the location you stayed previously for 3 years
- Document showing you are a resident of Great Britain
- Not banned from driving
Changing a name on UK driver’s licence
For this process, you can send DVLA your old driving licence together with the correct application form and formal supporting documents to change your name.
The procedure for this application includes:
- Filling in the application form
- Send your filled form to DVLA accompanied with:
- Original documents confirming your new name
- Paper driver’s licence or a photo card
Changing photo on UK driver’s licence
You can’t simply update your photo. To get a new photo, you need to renew your license which involves applying for a new one. You can renew online if you have a valid UK passport https://www.gov.uk/renew-photo-driving-licence. This option also checks your photo eligibility. If not eligible for online renewal, fill out a D1 form, include a recent passport-sized photo, your current license, and the renewal fee (unless exempt) and send it to the DVLA https://www.gov.uk/renew-photo-driving-licence.
When renewing online, you will need to:
- Provide an address of where you have lived for the previous three years
- Have a justifiable UK passport
- Driver’s licence
- Have your National Insurance number
- Should be a resident of Great Britain (People in Northern Ireland follow a different process)
More information on the official website.
Change your photo quickly with Smartphone iD!
While you can’t directly update your UK driving licence photo itself, renewing your licence with an updated picture is straightforward. The Smartphone iD app can be a budget-friendly solution. Our app helps you capture a digital photo that meets the official UK driving licence photo requirements. After taking the photo, you’ll receive it via email along with a digital photo code. This code can then be used when renewing your licence online, potentially saving you time and effort on the application process.
Learn more:
- Driving in the UK with a foreign driving licence : what should you know?
- How to obtain an IDP in the UK?
- How to renew a driving licence of the elderly?
- Everything you need to know about the UK driving licence
- How many photos for a driving licence?
- How to replace UK driving licence if it is lost, damaged or stolen?
- When and how do you replace a UK paper driving permit for a photocard licence?
- A driving licence photo renewal
