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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Motoring
    3. Driving licences
    4. Renew, exchange or apply for a driving licence

    Renew your driving licence online

    You can use this service to renew your car and motorbike, lorry, bus or tractor driving licence. You can only use this service to renew your driving licence if you're resident in NI. It’s faster to renew your licence online.

    Before you start

    You cannot use this service if your last licence was issued before 1 April 1999 and you haven’t had your identity checked. These licences can be renewed by post, by filling in and returning a driving licence application form (DL1 or DL2). 
    The forms are available from Post Offices.

    To apply online to renew your driving licence you'll need:

    • a digital photo or photo code - look at the rules for digital photos before renewing your licence via the green link below 
    • a credit or debit card (if payment is needed)
    • a valid email address
    • your NI driving licence number and expiry date - on the plastic card part of your driving licence – ‘5’ is the driving licence number and ‘4b’ the expiry date

    Once you submit your application, the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) may contact you if more information or a fee is needed.

    For lorry and bus licences, you will get more information as you go through the online application about how to send the DVA your medical information - DLM1 form/ Basic Disclosure Certificate (BDC) if they're needed.

    Although you can change your address online you cannot change your name online. Find out how to change your name at: Keeping your driving licence up-to-date

    Renew your driving licence online

    Additional information

    If you're unable to provide a digital photo, your licence can be renewed by:

    • filling in and returning a driving licence application form (DL1 or DL2) - these forms are available from Post Offices

    Linking your driving licence

    You do not need to create a nidirect account to renew your driving licence online but it can save you time when you’re filling out your application.

    When you create your account and you’ve had your identity verified you can link your licence so the information from your driving record shows on screen. DVA will also send you updates on your application, such as when it has been processed.

    You can view your driving record to check the details DVA hold for you, including any penalty points or driving convictions you may have.

    You can also create a code to allow a third party, for example a car hire company or your employer, to view your driving rights.

    • Instructions on how to link your driving licence

    To find out more about identity assurance and the documents you need to verify your identity see:

    • Identity assurance

    If you already have an account, or need to create an account, you can log in to the service using the green button above. 

    Watch the video on renewing your driving licence online:

    You can find out how any personal information you send to the Department for Infrastructure (DVA) when using this service will be handled by viewing their privacy notice.

    For queries

    For queries about renewing your driving licence online, email: dva@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.

    For queries about your identity check, email: nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

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    Renew, exchange or apply for a driving licence

    • Apply for a provisional driving licence online
    • Applying for a provisional driving licence
    • Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes
    • Driving licence application DL2 - guidance notes
    • Exchanging your foreign driving licence
    • Identity documents and photographs
    • Keeping your driving licence up-to-date
    • Older drivers – deciding when to stop driving
    • Renew your driving licence
    • Renew your driving licence at 70 plus
    • Renewing your vocational licence
    • Replacing your driving licence
    • The cost of a driving licence
    • The photocard driving licence explained

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    Email 
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    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

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    For queries about:

    • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
      contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
       
    • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
      contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

     

    For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

    For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

    For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

    If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

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