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Renewing your driving licence entitlement for larger vehicles, minibuses or buses at 45 or 65

Your entitlement to drive lorries, minibuses or buses is valid until your 45th birthday. After that, you’ll need to renew your entitlement every five years until you are 65.  After the age of 65 you have to renew your licence entitlement every year.

How to renew your entitlement

Approximately two months before the expiry of your driving entitlement, the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) will send you a DL1R: ‘application for renewal of lorry and bus entitlement’ form. A DLM1: ‘medical examination report’ form is also required. These are available from local vehicle licensing offices, MOT centres or directly from the DVA by calling 0845 4024 000.

Please note: the issuing of DL1R forms is a courtesy on the Agency's behalf and it is not obliged to issue reminders. If you haven’t received a reminder, you should instead obtain a DL1 from a main Post Office® branch, local vehicle licensing office, MOT centre or directly from the DVA by calling 0845 4024 000.

Basic Disclosure Certificates (PCV entitlement only)

Article 71 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 requires the Department to issue passenger-carrying vehicles (PCV) driver’s licences only where it is satisfied, as regards conduct, that the applicant is a fit person to hold such a licence.

All applications for provisional PCV driver’s licences must, therefore, be accompanied by a Basic Disclosure Certificate (BDC).  BDCs will also be required when renewing PCV driver’s licences.  Where the applicant is aged over 65 years, or where the ordinary driving licence is issued for periods of 3 years or less, a BDC will only be required on renewal of the ordinary driving licence, and no more frequently than every 3 years.

BDCs, which can be obtained from Access NI, will show details of all convictions considered to be unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, or state that no such convictions were found.

You should note that while a conviction will not necessarily prevent you from being issued with a licence, some serious convictions may lead to a refusal. Where a licence is refused, you may make an appeal under Article 76 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

To obtain a Basic Disclosure Certificate, you should contact AccessNI at:

Access NI
PO Box 1085
Belfast
BT5 9BD

You can also phone AccessNI on 0300 200 7 888 or log on to the website for further information.

DVA will only accept BDCs that have been issued within the period of three months ending with the date of the application for the driving licence.

Applicants for PCV driver’s licences who are subject to Standard or Enhanced Disclosure arrangements may provide a BDC waiver letter from their employer indicating that they are in registered employment and that they have not been convicted of any offence which could lead to the refusal of the grant of a PCV driver’s licence.

Applications for PCV entitlement without a valid Disclosure Certificate will not be accepted.

You’ll need to:

  • complete the DL1 form
  • ask a doctor to complete the DLM1 form - the doctor will normally charge you for completing the report
  • obtain and enclose a Basic Disclosure Certificate/BDC waiver letter with your application (PCV only)
  • send completed forms to DVA, Driver Licensing, County Hall, Coleraine, BT51 3TB

When to expect your licence

DVA aims to deliver your driving licence to you within three weeks of receiving your application. It'll take longer if your health or personal details have to be checked.

Driving before your licence is returned

Once DVA has received your application, you can drive before you receive your licence as long as:

  • you have held a Northern Ireland or Great Britain driving licence issued since 1 April 1986, or an EU driving licence, which authorises the driving of vehicles included in the category to which your application relates,
  • you have made a qualifying application for a licence,
  • you aren't disqualified from driving,
  • you haven't been refused a licence for medical reasons or for failing to comply with medical enquiries,
  • you wouldn't be refused a licence for medical reasons (if in doubt, check with your doctor), and
  • you keep to any special conditions which apply to the previously issued licence

You must tell the DVA if you have ever had, or currently suffer from, a medical condition that may affect your driving.

If you are applying for, or currently hold, a LGV or PCV driving licence you will have to meet a higher standard of conduct.

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