DVLA Change of Address UK: Driving Licence and V5C Guide

Why you must tell DVLA when you move

When you move house, the law requires you to tell DVLA so that your driving licence, V5C vehicle log book and other records show your correct address. This is not optional. Under the Road Traffic Act, drivers must keep DVLA informed of their address, and failing to do so can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

There is a second, practical reason to act quickly. If you make an insurance claim with the wrong address on your licence, your cover can be invalidated. Insurers treat a wrong address as misrepresentation, and a claim may be rejected on that basis alone.

It is important to understand upfront that a dvla change of address is not one single task. There are two separate processes: updating your driving licence address, and updating your V5C logbook address. They are handled separately, and completing one does not update the other.

How to change the address on your driving licence

The fastest way to change address driving licence records is online at gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence. To apply you need your driving licence, your National Insurance number and a UK passport. The service is free, and your new licence should arrive within about one week.

You can still drive while waiting for the new licence to arrive, so there is no need to stop using your car in the meantime.

Two situations mean you cannot use the online service:

• If you do not have a UK passport, you must apply by post instead.
• If you need to change your name and address at the same time, you must also apply by post, because the online service cannot handle both together.

To apply by post, use form D1, "Application for a driving licence", available from Post Offices and from gov.uk. Send it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN. This is also free, but processing takes up to 3 weeks, and may take longer if DVLA needs to check identity or medical details. Contact DVLA if the licence has not arrived within 3 weeks.

A provisional licence address change follows exactly the same process as a full driving licence.

How to change the address on your V5C logbook

To change address on V5C records, the quickest route is online at gov.uk/change-address-v5c. You will need your vehicle registration number, the V5C document reference number and the current postcode shown on the V5C. The service is free, and the new V5C should arrive within 4 weeks. Contact DVLA if it has not arrived after 4 weeks.

There is a time limit worth noting. If you have not received the V5C after 6 weeks and have not notified DVLA, you will have to pay £25 for a replacement.

To update the logbook by post, fill in section 3 of your current V5C with your new address and post it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA. This is free, and a new V5C with the updated address is posted back to you. If your document is lost or damaged, see how to replace a lost or damaged V5C.

What else to update when you move

Your licence and V5C are not the only records affected by a house move. Two further updates are easy to overlook.

• Vehicle tax Direct Debit. If you pay vehicle tax monthly, update the address with your bank, or cancel and re-set up the direct debit.
• Motor insurance policy. Notify your insurer of your new address. Using a wrong address on your policy can invalidate cover and is treated as misrepresentation. If the change affects your premium, your insurer must be told, or any claim may be rejected.

Once your details are updated, you can check your vehicle's DVLA records to confirm the information held against your registration is correct.

Northern Ireland: a different process

Drivers in Northern Ireland do not use DVLA. Address changes are handled by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) at nidirect.gov.uk, which runs a different process from the gov.uk services described above.

If you live in Northern Ireland, follow the DVA guidance rather than the DVLA online forms, even though the underlying obligation to keep your address up to date is the same.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to change your address with DVLA?

Yes. Both the driving licence address change and the V5C logbook address change are free, whether you apply online or by post. The only charge mentioned here is the £25 replacement fee if a V5C has not arrived after 6 weeks and DVLA has not been notified.

How long does it take?

A new driving licence arrives within about 1 week when you apply online, or up to 3 weeks by post. A new V5C arrives within 4 weeks. Postal applications may take longer if DVLA needs to check identity or medical details.

Can I drive while waiting for my new licence?

Yes. You can still drive while waiting for the new licence to arrive after completing a dvla change of address online or a postal application.

What if I don't have a UK passport?

You cannot use the online service. You must apply by post using form D1, sent to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN.

Do I need to update licence and V5C separately?

Yes. These are two separate processes. Updating your driving licence does not update the V5C, and updating the V5C does not update your licence. Both must be done to tell DVLA change of address details in full. For a broader view of how keeper and vehicle records work, see what the registered keeper record shows, and for related record changes see other DVLA record changes. If you are checking a car before buying, a free car check by registration number can help confirm the details held. Driving with outdated or invalid documents carries its own risks, covered in penalties for driving without valid documents.