Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Motoring
  3. Driving licences

Change address on your driving licence online

This service is only available if you are still resident in Northern Ireland.

Before you start

If your driving licence is not a Northern Ireland (NI) licence and you're resident in NI, you may be able to exchange your licence for a NI driving licence. 

If you have a NI driving licence and are resident outside NI, you should contact the licensing authorities where you are now resident.

You must let the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) know if your address changes to keep your records up-to-date and make sure future driving licence reminders are sent to the right address.

To apply online to change your address you'll need:

  • a credit or debit card (if payment is needed)
  • a valid email address
  • a printer
  • your NI driving licence number and expiry date (date it runs out on)- both can be found on the plastic card part of your driving licence – ‘5’ is the driving licence number and ‘4b’ the expiry date
  • to send both parts of your driving licence (a plastic photocard and a paper part which is known as the paper counterpart) to DVA

If you can't return both parts of your driving licence you must give a reason why and you'll need to pay for a replacement licence. If your licence is due to expire (run out) within the next 12 months you can consider applying to renew it now instead of replacing it. Either way costs the same.

If your licence has expired or is within two months of expiring you cannot apply to change your address. You must apply to renew your driving licence. 

You can’t change your name online

If your name has changed from that on your existing licence you must fill in and return a driving licence application form (DL1 or DL2 if you have a lorry or bus driving licence) along with the right identity documents. You can get DL1 and DL2 forms from Post Offices.

Change your address online

Additional information

Linking your driving licence

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

When you create an account 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.

To link your driving licence you must have a nidirect account and have had your identity verified.

You can also 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

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

For queries

For queries about changing the address on your driving licence, email: dva@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.
For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

This is a new beta service. To find out more about what beta means and how your feedback can help improve the service, visit:

  • beta on nidirect
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Driving licences

  • Car hire and driving outside Northern Ireland
  • Endorsements and disqualifications
  • Medical conditions and telling the DVA about a bereavement
  • Renew, exchange or apply for a driving licence
  • Vehicle categories and driving on a foreign licence
  • View/ share your driving licence or check a driving licence

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

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

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

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 and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

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.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS