Moved house? Update your driving licence address — or risk a £1,000 fine

A UK driving licence shows your current address, and when you move you must update it with the DVLA. Many people forget — but the law requires you to report an address change, and not doing so can mean a fine of up to £1,000. The change itself is free.

How to update your address

The easiest way is online on GOV.UK: you sign in to the DVLA service and enter your new address. It is free, and the new licence usually arrives within a week. You can also do it by post, sending your old licence and a form. Both provisional and full licences must be updated.

Who can do it?

The service is for residents of Great Britain; Northern Ireland has its own process. You must not be banned from driving. While you wait for the new licence you can keep driving, as long as your licence is otherwise valid and you have not been refused on medical or other grounds.

What else to remember when you move

You also need to update the address on your vehicle documents (the V5C logbook) — also done with the DVLA and also free, but a separate step. If you have a retained number plate or payment subscriptions (such as Dart Charge or ULEZ auto pay), check the address and payment details there too. Do not pay third-party websites to "change your licence address": the official DVLA service is free. Always check the current process and exceptions on GOV.UK.