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

Renew your driving licence

You must apply to renew your licence when it is due to expire. Check the date of expiry of your licence at section 4b of your plastic photocard licence.

Differences between NI and GB licences 

Changes made to the format of the Great Britain driving licences on 8 June 2015 have no effect on licences from the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland. NI licences are still made up of two parts, a plastic photocard and paper part which is known as the paper counterpart.

  • The photocard driving licence explained

Licence period

A car, motorcycle or tractor driving licence will expire (when the date at 4b on the plastic card part of your driving licence has passed) every 10 years, unless you have a driving licence that has been medically restricted. There are also exceptions for drivers over 60 and for lorry and bus drivers. More about this below under the heading: 'Exceptions'.

You'll get a renewal notice

About two months before your licence expires the DVA will send you a renewal notice called 'Application for Renewal of a Driving Licence' (DL1R). This will be posted to the address held in their records, so it is important that you tell the DVA when you change address: 

  • Keeping your driving licence up-to-date

Renew early

Apply early to get your new driving licence before your existing licence expires. Applications where the driver has declared a medical condition may take longer to process.

If you have sent in a valid application before your existing licence expires, you can continue to drive and in that case you should not need to contact the DVA to check progress. 

The earliest you can renew

The DVA will accept applications for renewal driving licences up to two months before they are due to expire, giving you time to plan ahead and make sure that your licence is ready in good time for example for a planned trip such as a holiday.

Renew online

Once you've got your renewal notice, you can apply to renew your car, motorcycle and tractor driving licence online at the link below. During the process you'll be asked to give a digital photo of yourself. By following the digital photo guidelines at the link below, you'll avoid your application being delayed:

  • Renew your driving licence online
  • The photo for your driving licence

If you renew online, you'll get your driving licence much sooner than if you renew by post.

Cost

The renewal notice (DL1R) you receive from the DVA to remind you to renew your licence will tell you how much your licence renewal will cost. You can also get details about the fees for different types of driving licences including details of how to pay at the following link:

  • The cost of a driving licence

Be aware that there are unofficial websites offering online driver licensing. Ignore these.

If you don't receive a renewal notice (DL1R)

The DVA send out reminders to renew your driving licence as a courtesy but  are not obliged to let you  know that your licence is due to expire.  

If, for any reason, you don’t receive the renewal notice (DL1R) from the DVA, you can apply online: 

  • Renew your driving licence online
  • DL1 guidance notes

Driving before new licence arrives

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

  • have held a Northern Ireland or Great Britain driving licence issued since 1 January 1976 or hold another exchangeable licence - explained at the following links: GBR, Jersey, Guernsey, IOM, Gibraltar driving licences and Exchanging your foreign driving licence
  • have made a qualifying application for a licence
  • aren't disqualified from driving
  • haven't been refused a licence for medical reasons or for failing to follow the DVA medical enquiries
  • wouldn't be refused a licence for medical reasons (if in doubt, check with your doctor)
  • keep to any special conditions which apply to the licence

When to expect your licence

The DVA aims to process your licence within 10 working days of receiving a fully filled in application. This may take longer if your health or personal details have to be checked. Allow at least four weeks for your driving licence to arrive before contacting the DVA.

If your driving licence has not arrived six weeks after you made your application, contact DVA Driver Licensing.

If you do not tell the DVA within eight weeks that your licence has not arrived, you will have to apply for a duplicate licence and pay the relevant fee. 

Return of supporting documents

The driving licence fee includes the return of your supporting documents (where applicable for applications done by post) by second class post. If you would like your supporting documents returned by secure delivery, include a pre-paid Royal Mail special delivery envelope.

The DVA will not give compensation for any loss or delay resulting from the use of second class post.

The DVA cannot guarantee to return your documents by a set date, for example, a holiday.

Exceptions

Drivers over 60

Drivers over 60 whose licences expire before their 70th birthday, will be issued a licence valid until age 70 or for a period of three years, whichever is the longer. A fee applies, even if the period granted is for the minimum of three years. 

Renew your driving licence at 70 plus

  • Renew your driving licence at 70 plus

If you drive a lorry, bus, minibus

The licence categories for driving a lorry, bus or minibus will be valid for a maximum of five years, up to age 65. At age 65 and over, the maximum is one year. 

  • Renew your vocational licence at age 65

Medical conditions

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

  • Medical conditions and driving

Licence lost, stolen or damaged

If your licence has been lost, stolen, defaced, or damaged you can make an application for a replacement at any time:

  • Replacing your driving licence

Driving on holiday

Thinking about going on holiday and hiring a car? If so, check that your driving licence will be valid well before you are due to travel.

  • The photocard driving licence explained

If you need to share your driving record with a car hire company, you can  create a licence ‘check code’ online.

  • View or share your driving licence information

More useful links

  • Driving for a living
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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
  • Renew your lorry or bus vocational driving licence online
  • Renewing your vocational licence
  • Replacing your driving licence
  • The cost of a driving licence
  • The photocard driving licence explained

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  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
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If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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