Renew Lorry or Bus Licence UK: DVLA Guide 2025
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Holding a Category C or D entitlement carries more responsibility than an ordinary car licence, and the DVLA treats it differently when renewal time rolls around. Whether you drive HGVs for a haulage firm, operate a coach, or run your own minibus business, keeping your entitlement current is a legal requirement, and letting it lapse can leave you off the road.
The process itself isn't complicated once you know what to expect, but the rules shift depending on your age and the type of licence you currently hold. This guide walks you through how renewal works under 45, what changes from 45 onwards, what to do if your paperwork hasn't arrived, and how to handle a name or photograph change at the same time. Read on so you can get the right form to the DVLA without the usual back-and-forth.
What this document is
A lorry or bus entitlement is an additional category added to your standard UK driving licence, letting you operate vehicles above the weight and passenger limits of an ordinary car licence. Common categories include C and C+E for rigid and articulated lorries, and D and D+E for buses, coaches and minibuses with trailers.
Because these vehicles carry greater risk on the road, the DVLA requires holders to renew more frequently than car drivers, and medical standards are stricter. Before your 45th birthday, renewal is relatively straightforward and typically free of a medical requirement unless the DVLA has flagged a health condition.
From 45 onwards, a medical examination report from a doctor becomes part of every renewal, and the frequency of renewal changes again once you reach 65. Renewal is separate from the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC), which professional drivers also need to keep current. This page focuses on the entitlement renewal itself.
How to use this document
- Wait for your D47PU renewal pack. If you are under 45, the DVLA normally posts a D47PU application form to your registered address around eight weeks before your entitlement is due to expire. Check that the personal details on the form are accurate before you go any further, and update the DVLA separately if your address has changed.
- Decide what you want to keep. If you want to continue driving lorries or buses, complete the main sections of the D47PU. If you only want to keep your car and motorbike entitlements and drop the vocational categories, fill in section 2B instead. This tells the DVLA to remove the lorry or bus entitlement while keeping the rest of your licence intact.
- Add a photo or evidence of a name change if needed. The form will tell you whether a new passport-style photograph is required, which is typically the case every ten years. If your name has changed since your last licence was issued, include original documentation such as a marriage certificate or deed poll. Photocopies will not be accepted.
- Send the completed form to Swansea. Post your completed D47PU along with your current photocard and paper counterpart (if you still hold one) to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BR. Use a tracked service if you want proof of delivery, as the DVLA holds your licence while they process the renewal.
- Wait for your new licence to arrive. Processing times vary, so allow several weeks. You can usually continue driving under Section 88 rules while your application is being dealt with, provided you meet the relevant conditions. Check current DVLA guidance on gov.uk before assuming you can keep driving during the wait.
Common questions
Q What happens when I turn 45?
From your 45th birthday onwards, you must renew your lorry or bus entitlement every five years, and each renewal requires a medical examination report (form D4) completed by a doctor. If your current licence is due to expire within 56 days of your 45th birthday, you should follow the over-45 process rather than the under-45 one. The rules change again at 65, when renewal becomes annual.
Q What if my D47PU form never arrived?
If you haven't received the renewal pack in the post and your expiry date is approaching, you can order a D2 application pack from the DVLA form ordering service on gov.uk, or call the DVLA directly. Don't simply let the entitlement lapse while you wait, as driving a lorry or bus without valid entitlement is a serious offence and may affect your insurance.
Q Is there a fee to renew?
Renewal of lorry and bus entitlement is often free for drivers under 45, but fees can apply in certain circumstances, for example if you also need to update your photocard. Always check gov.uk for the current amount before sending your application, as fees are updated periodically and the DVLA will reject applications where the wrong amount is enclosed.
Q Can I still drive while I wait for my new licence?
In many cases, Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act allows you to keep driving while the DVLA processes your renewal, provided you meet specific conditions including holding a valid previous licence and having no medical reason not to drive. The rules are stricter for vocational entitlements than for car licences, so check current DVLA guidance before assuming this applies to you.
Q Do I need to renew my Driver CPC at the same time?
No. The Driver CPC is a separate qualification for professional drivers and runs on its own five-year cycle of periodic training. Your entitlement renewal and your Driver CPC are handled independently, and one does not replace the other. If you drive professionally, you need both to be current, so keep an eye on the expiry dates for each.
Q What if I change my name or address?
You can update your name when you renew by enclosing original documents that evidence the change, such as a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate, or deed poll. Photocopies are not accepted. Address changes are free and can be done separately online or by post at any time, and you must notify the DVLA promptly when you move.
Q I still have an old paper licence. What do I do?
If you hold a paper-only driving licence without a photocard, you'll need to send original identity documentation and a recent passport-style photograph along with your D47PU. The DVLA will issue you a modern photocard licence as part of the renewal. Keep copies of any documents you send, and use a tracked postal service for peace of mind.
Sources
This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.
- Guidance · UK GovRenew your driving licence (lorry or bus) on gov.ukgov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovDriving a lorry, minibus or bus (gov.uk)gov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovOrder DVLA forms (D2 pack)gov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovDriver CPC for professional driversgov.uk
Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.