4x4 Off Roading ›› Driving Rules ›› Driving Licence Fees
The application method that you use (e.g. online or by post) will determine the exact cost of a driving licence for the United Kingdom.
Information in this page explains how to apply and pay for different types of driving licences and the current fees for all of them.
The amount you need to pay will depend on whether you are:
Important: The DVLA do not accept damaged or altered cheques and the return address may differ depending on which licence you apply for. The cost of a driving licence is different in Northern Ireland.
| If You Apply Online | If You Apply By Post | |
| Apply for first provisional driving licence (car, moped, motorcycle) | £34 | £43 |
| Getting your full driving licence (e.g. after passing your driving test) | N/A | Free (£17 if you use a different photo from your provisional) |
| First full GB licence in exchange for a full European Community, European Economic Area or other designated foreign licence | N/A | £43 |
The current fee to replace a lost, stolen, damaged (including defaced), or destroyed driving licence is £20.
| What are You Changing? | If You Change Online | If You Change By Post |
| I want to change the address | Free of charge | Free of charge |
| I want to change the name | N/A | Free of charge |
| I want to change the photograph | £14 | £17 |
| I want to change the name and photograph at the same time | N/A | £17 |
| I want to change the photograph and address at the same time | £14 | £17 |
| If You Apply Online | If You Apply By Post | |
| Renewing your driving licence because it's expired | £14 | £17 |
| Renewing your driving licence because you are seventy (70) or older | Free of charge | Free of charge |
Unless stated otherwise, a photocard licence is valid for ten (10) years. DVLA may remind you to renew the photo before the current licence ends. You can also renew an expired driving licence at a Post Office and the cost is £21.50.
There is no charge to renew your short-term medical driving licence online if you have diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition, or a heart condition.
| If You Apply Online | If You Apply By Post | |
| Adding entitlement to full or provisional licence (e.g. to drive a bus or lorry) | N/A | Free of charge |
| Renewing entitlement to drive a bus or lorry | N/A | Free of charge |
| Giving up entitlement to drive bus or lorry | N/A | Free of charge |
The cost to change a photograph at the same time is £17.
| What Do You Want to Exchange? | If You Apply Online | If You Apply By Post |
| Change the address on your driving licence (paper licence for photocard) | Free of charge | Free of charge |
| Exchange your paper driving licence for a photocard licence (with a change of name) | N/A | Free of charge |
| Exchange your paper driving licence for a photocard licence (with no change of details) | £20 | £20 |
| Full Northern Ireland licence in exchange for a GB licence | N/A | Free of charge |
| Full European Community, European Economic Area or other designated foreign licence, if a previous GB licence held | N/A | Free of charge |
| Full European Community, European Economic Area or other designated foreign licence, if a previous GB licence not held | N/A | £43 |
| How Did You Get Your Licence Back? | If You Apply Online | If You Apply By Post |
| You were disqualified for any reason except drink driving | N/A | £65 |
| You were disqualified for drink driving and you need to pass a medical exam with a DVLA doctor | N/A | £90 |
| You were disqualified for drink driving and you do not need to pass a medical exam | N/A | £65 |
| You’ve got your licence back after it was revoked under the New Drivers Act | N/A | £50 |
| You’ve got your licence back after it was revoked for not handing it over to DVLA or at court | N/A | Free of charge |
Another section explains more about penalty points (endorsements) and how to reapply for your driving licence if you've been disqualified.