How long does it take to renew license online

https://dvladigital.blog.gov.uk/2021/12/16/top-3-reasons-to-renew-your-driving-licence-online/

Motorists need to renew their photocard driving licence every 10 years. However, according to a recent survey, only 35% of respondents knew that you could renew your driving licence online.

I’ve been a Service Designer on the 'Renew your licence' online service for 2 years and over that time have seen it grow in popularity. Our 'Renew your licence' online service was used over 3.7 million times in 2021 – if you are wondering what’s in it for you then here’s what you need to know.

1. It’s quicker than applying by paper application

The online driving licence renewal service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on GOV.UK. The user-friendly service has been designed to guide customers through the application and takes only minutes to complete.

Once your online application has been submitted, your new licence should be issued within a week. This is substantially quicker than applying by paper. You will also save money by applying online. There’s a service to renew a photocard driving licence and a service to renew your licence at 70 and over.

2. It’s easy to use our online service

DVLA’s online services have been specifically designed and tested to ensure that each customer’s journey is smooth and hassle-free. Customers are guided through the application through the simple steps and are informed of all the requirements before the application is started.

In a recent survey, when asked to rank how easy or difficult it is to use DVLA’s online services, 94% of respondents answered “easy” to “very easy”, with over 97% of users stating they would use the online services again in the future.

3. GOV.UK is safe and secure

Insight gathered by our Customer Insight team showed that some customers may feel hesitant or less confident transacting online. 20% of customers stated they would prefer to speak to someone which suggests there may be a lack of trust, either in themselves or the service itself. When using the official GOV.UK website, you can be assured that you are using the official DVLA website, and your details are safe and secure.

DVLA regularly remind customers to always look for GOV.UK when searching for our services online to avoid third-party websites which may charge a premium for using their services. The cost of renewing your photocard driving licence online is only £14 so customers are reminded to remain vigilant of other websites which charge more. Renewing your driving licence at age 70+ is free and you will never be charged for this service on GOV.UK.

90% of those who use our online services don’t go back to using paper applications. So, if your driving licence is about to expire, why not give the simple and secure online service a try?

You can also try our other services which are also available online:

• Tell DVLA you’ve bought, sold or transferred a vehicle
• Renew driving licence at 70
• Tax your vehicle
• Order a duplicate V5C

Print

We will send you a licence renewal notice about 6 weeks before your licence expires. If you have signed up for e-notices you will receive your renewal notice by email instead of postal mail.

Reasons you may not be able to renew online

You may not be able to renew your licence online if you don't meet the requirements for the online service.

When you renew a provisional or open licence online, the maximum period you can request depends on when your digital photo was last taken. If you wish to renew for a longer period (maximum 5 years), you will need to attend a transport and motoring customer service centre to have your digital photo and signature captured.

Find out other ways to renew your licence if you are unable to use this online service.

How to renew your licence online

To renew your licence online, you will need:

• your driver licence number
• to confirm your identity—these details may vary depending on the service you select and if you have applied an additional level of security
• your credit card details for the licence renewal fee—the fee varies depending on how long you want to renew your licence. A credit card surcharge applies to all credit card payments. The credit card surcharge applies to all products paid using our online services and is unavoidable online.

A new licence will be sent to you when you have successfully completed your licence renewal online. If you have signed up for e-reminders we will email you when your licence is posted.

You should receive your licence within 28 days. Contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 23 80 if you have not received it.

Last updated:24 October 2022

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