DVLA Forms & Driving Licence Applications: The Complete UK Guide

At a glance

• DVLA handles driving licences and vehicle registration for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is handled by the DVA.
• Most common paper forms: D1 (car/motorcycle applications, renewals, replacements and name changes), D2 (lorry/bus entitlement and name changes for those licences), D4 (medical report for lorry/bus), D46P (70+ renewal reminder sent automatically by DVLA).
• Online is usually faster and cheaper for most standard applications — paper is still needed for name/gender changes, some medical cases, and lorry/bus entitlement.
• D1, D2 and D4 packs are only available from Post Offices that offer DVLA services — they cannot be downloaded or ordered from GOV.UK.
• Key fees (checked against GOV.UK on 19 July 2026 — confirm the current fee on GOV.UK before you pay): first provisional £34 online / £43 post; first full licence after passing your test is free by post (£17 with a new photo); photocard renewal £14 online / £17 post / £21.50 at a Post Office; replacement £20; over-70 and medical renewals free; address and name changes free.
• Section 88, Road Traffic Act 1988 may let you keep driving while a renewal or replacement is processed — the conditions matter, so check GOV.UK or take advice if in doubt.
• Two forms often confused with driving licence forms: V62 (replaces the vehicle log book, V5C) and V890 (SORN — declares a vehicle off the road). Neither is a driving licence form.

What the DVLA does — and when it becomes relevant for you

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is the government body that issues driving licences and maintains the vehicle register for Great Britain. Most people encounter it at predictable moments:

• Turning 15 years and 9 months and applying for a first provisional to start learning
• Passing the driving test and getting full entitlement confirmed
• Moving house, getting married, or changing their name or gender
• Reaching 70 and moving to a three-yearly renewal cycle
• Losing a wallet containing their photocard
• Being diagnosed with a medical condition that must be reported
• Looking to drive lorries, buses or coaches professionally

Each of these triggers a different application, often with its own form number and processing route. Picking the right one first time avoids delay — that is what this guide is for.

This guide covers England, Scotland and Wales only. If you hold a Northern Ireland licence, the relevant authority is the DVA (Driver and Vehicle Agency), not the DVLA.

The main DVLA driving licence forms explained

D1 — Application for a driving licence (car and motorcycle)

Form D1 is the foundation of paper-based licence administration for cars and motorcycles. It covers first provisional applications, renewals and replacements that fall outside the online service, and name or gender changes (which must always be done by post).

D1 packs are only available from a Post Office that offers DVLA services — you cannot download or order the form from GOV.UK. For most straightforward applications, the GOV.UK online service is faster and cheaper; D1 remains the route when your circumstances do not fit the online flow, or original documents need to accompany the application.

D2 — Application for a lorry or bus licence

Form D2 adds provisional entitlement to drive lorry and bus category vehicles (Group 2) — categories C, C1, C+E, D, D1 and D+E — and is also the form lorry or bus licence holders use for a name or gender change. Like D1, it is only available from a Post Office offering DVLA services, and there is no DVLA application fee for adding entitlement.

A D2 application to add entitlement almost always needs an accompanying D4 medical report (below). Check the full eligibility, age and training requirements on the GOV.UK guide to becoming an HGV or bus driver before you apply, as some categories carry age restrictions and compulsory tests.

D4 — Medical examination report (lorry and bus)

Form D4 is the medical examination a doctor must complete to support a Group 2 (lorry/bus) application — an optician or optometrist may need to complete the eyesight section. A D4 is required: at your initial application (whatever your age), again at 45, then every 5 years up to 65, and annually from 65 onward.

D4 packs are only available from a Post Office offering DVLA services, and the medical itself is paid to your doctor or examiner directly — the cost varies, so confirm it before you book. Guidance document INF4D covers what the medical involves; check GOV.UK that you have the current version before paying.

D46P — Over-70 renewal form

Form D46P is the renewal notice DVLA automatically sends as you approach your 70th birthday — about 90 days before the birthday, or before your licence expires, whichever applies. Renewing is free either by returning the D46P by post or completing the service online at GOV.UK.

If a D46P has not arrived and your 70th birthday is approaching, you do not need to wait — renew online anyway, or pick up a D1 from a Post Office and use that instead. It is your responsibility to renew on time even if no reminder arrives.

Other forms people confuse with driving licence forms

| Form | What it actually is | Note | |------|---------|------| | V62 | Application for a replacement vehicle registration certificate (V5C / log book) | A vehicle form, not a licence form. If you just need a duplicate V5C with no changes, GOV.UK's online log book service is quicker than posting a V62. | | V890 | Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) — declares a vehicle off the road and exempt from tax | Also a vehicle form. Most keepers can make a SORN online instead; V890 by post is for keepers not yet registered on the V5C. |

Both are included here only because drivers often reach for them by mistake when they actually need D1, D2, D4 or D46P.

Provisional licence: applying for the first time

You can apply for a first provisional driving licence from 15 years and 9 months old, though you cannot drive a car on public roads until you are 17 (different ages apply to some other vehicle types).

Eligibility:

• At least 15 years and 9 months old
• Able to read a number plate from 20 metres away
• Permission to live in Great Britain for at least 185 days

How to apply:

• Online at GOV.UK — £34. Licence usually arrives within a week.
• By post using form D1 — £43. Collect the form from a Post Office offering DVLA services.

Fees checked against GOV.UK driving licence fees on 19 July 2026 — confirm the current fee on GOV.UK before you pay, as they change periodically. Full step-by-step walkthrough: Provisional Driving Licence UK: How to Apply.

After you pass your test: getting your full licence issued costs nothing if you keep your existing provisional photo (post only — there is no online route for this specific step), or £17 by post to use a new photo.

Renewing a photocard driving licence (standard 10-year renewal)

Photocard licences expire every 10 years — the date is printed on the front of the card. DVLA usually sends a reminder, but renewing on time remains the driver's responsibility.

| Method | Fee | |--------|-----| | Online (GOV.UK) | £14 | | By post (form D1) | £17 | | At a Post Office | £21.50 |

Figures checked against GOV.UK on 19 July 2026 — confirm the current fee on GOV.UK before you pay. Online is quickest and cheapest for most drivers — you will need your licence number, National Insurance number and an up-to-date photo. Driving with an expired photocard is an offence, so renew before the expiry date.

Full walkthrough: DVLA Driving Licence Renewal UK.

Renewing at 70 and beyond

At 70, the 10-year cycle ends and a three-yearly renewal regime begins, initiated automatically when DVLA sends form D46P about 90 days before your 70th birthday or before your licence expires.

Renewal is free, either online at GOV.UK or by post using the D46P (or a D1 if the D46P has not arrived). When renewing, you must confirm you still meet the minimum eyesight standard and declare any relevant medical conditions. You do not need a medical examination simply for turning 70, though DVLA may follow up if your declaration raises questions. Postal applications should arrive within about 3 weeks — longer if medical or personal details need checking.

Full walkthrough: Renew Driving Licence at 70+ UK.

Renewing a short-term medical driving licence

If you hold a short-term medical licence — for a condition such as diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, a sleep condition, a visual impairment or a heart condition — renewal is free and, for car and motorcycle licences, can usually be done online.

Separately, if you are diagnosed with a medical condition that may affect your ability to drive safely, you have a legal duty to tell DVLA — you can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not. Report online at GOV.UK: check if a health condition affects your driving (car/motorcycle licences) or, for lorry, bus or coach licences, use the A-to-Z condition list on the same GOV.UK guide to find the right form. DVLA will then decide whether to issue a standard licence, a short-term medical licence, or to restrict your entitlement.

Replacing a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed licence

Apply for a replacement as soon as you notice it is missing — you do not need the paper counterpart.

How to apply:

• Online at GOV.UK — quickest route; usually arrives within a week
• By post using form D1 — collect from a Post Office offering DVLA services

Fee: £20, whichever route you use (checked against GOV.UK on 19 July 2026 — confirm the current fee on GOV.UK before you pay).

If your licence was stolen, GOV.UK recommends also reporting it to the police, particularly if other identity documents went missing at the same time. If you find your old licence after getting a replacement, you must return it to DVLA.

Full walkthrough: Replace Lost or Stolen Driving Licence UK.

Changing your name or address on your licence

Address change: online or by post — free. You can drive while you wait for the updated card. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA when your address changes.

Name or gender change: by post only — free. Use form D1 (car/motorcycle licence) or form D2 (lorry/bus licence), enclosing original documents evidencing the change (marriage certificate, deed poll, gender recognition certificate, etc — not photocopies).

Changing your photo at the same time as a name or address change: £17 by post (no fee if you are 70 or over, or hold a medical short-period licence).

Changing name and address together: must be done by post, using form D1 or D2 as appropriate.

You can continue driving while an updated licence is on its way. Check current processing times on GOV.UK if you have a deadline in mind.

Lorry and bus licences: D2 and D4 in detail

Adding lorry or bus (Group 2) entitlement involves more steps than a car application.

Main categories:

| Category | Vehicles covered | |----------|-----------------| | C1 | Medium-sized vehicles, 3,500–7,500 kg | | C | Lorries over 3,500 kg | | C+E / C1+E | As above, towing a heavier trailer | | D1 | Minibuses, up to 16 passenger seats | | D | Buses with more than 8 passenger seats | | D+E | Buses towing a heavier trailer |

The process:

1. Get a D2 application form and a D4 medical examination report from a Post Office offering DVLA services.
2. Have the D4 completed by a doctor (an optician may need to complete the eyesight section) — there is no DVLA fee for the application itself, but the medical is paid to the doctor or examiner and the cost varies.
3. Send both forms, plus your photocard licence, to DVLA. Processing typically takes around 3 weeks, longer if checks are needed.
4. Book and pass the relevant theory and practical tests.
5. Most professional drivers also need a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).

A further D4 medical is required at 45, then every 5 years to 65, then annually. Check the full requirements — including age rules, which vary by category — on GOV.UK: become a qualified HGV or bus driver before you start.

Can you drive while your application is being processed?

Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 allows you, in defined circumstances, to keep driving while a renewal or replacement application is with DVLA. Key conditions include:

• You previously held a valid licence for the category of vehicle you are driving
• Your previous licence was not revoked or refused on medical grounds
• You are not currently disqualified — including as a high-risk offender disqualified on or after 1 June 2013
• DVLA received a correct, complete application within the past 12 months
• If your application relates to a medical condition, you have your doctor's support to keep driving in the meantime

Section 88 does not help if your previous licence was revoked on medical grounds and those grounds are unresolved, or if you are subject to a current disqualification. In those cases, wait for the new licence before driving.

DVLA's guidance document INF188/6, "Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?", sets out the conditions in full. If you are unsure whether it covers your situation, check that document or take advice before getting behind the wheel.

Using DVLA's online services effectively

Most standard applications can now be completed on GOV.UK, and online is generally faster and cheaper than paper. You will typically need:

• Your driving licence number (on the front of your photocard)
• Your National Insurance number
• A valid UK passport or other accepted photo ID
• Your current address and recent address history

If you do not have a UK passport, need to send original documents, or are dealing with a medical condition, the online route may not be available — get form D1 or D2 from a Post Office and apply by post instead. Check current processing times on GOV.UK before applying if you have a deadline, as postal applications and those involving medical checks generally take longer than online ones.

Step-by-step: choosing the right application

1. Identify exactly what you need. Renewing a photocard, replacing a lost card, changing your name, adding a lorry category, and notifying a medical condition are all different applications — picking the wrong one is the most common cause of delay.
2. Check whether you can apply online. GOV.UK's driving licences page lists what can and cannot be done digitally.
3. If applying by post, get the right form from a Post Office. D1, D2 and D4 are not downloadable.
4. Gather your evidence first. Photo ID, your National Insurance number, and — for medical or name-change applications — supporting documents or a doctor's report.
5. Pay the correct fee. Check current fees on GOV.UK before you pay — some changes (address, most name changes) are free; others carry a charge.
6. Keep your confirmation reference in case you need to chase progress.
7. Continue driving lawfully while you wait, if Section 88 applies to your situation — check first if you are unsure.

This guide provides general information about DVLA driving licence applications in England, Scotland and Wales — it is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice on your specific situation. Fees and rules described were checked against GOV.UK on 19 July 2026 and are subject to change — always check GOV.UK for the current position before you pay or apply.

Last reviewed: July 2026 · Next review due: July 2027 or on DVLA fee or procedural change.