DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

WithOur 49online millionservices driversare andworking 40as millionnormal vehicles on the road, millions of people transact with us each month. We issue around 12 million driving licences and 18without milliondelay. vehicleThis logis books annually and answer around 1 million phone calls each month.

Our online services are the quickest, easiesteasiest, and often cheapest way to deal with us. We haverecommend beenthat busyyou addinguse newour online services sincewhere Marchpossible. 2020 to make it even easier for customers.

You can complete most transactions online which means you don’t need to post an application or speak to our contact centre. If you apply online, you should receive your driving licence or vehicle documentsregistration certificate (V5C) within 5 daysdays.

If (ityou canhave takeposted upyour paper application to 6us, weekshere ifare youthe postdates yourof applications towe us).are currently processing.

Online services

Here are some of our most popular online services:

• Apply for a driving licence
• Renew a driving licence
• Replace a driving licence
• Tell us you’ve sold a vehicle
• Change your address
• Tax a vehicle
• Keep or assign a private (personalised) registration online
• Apply for a duplicate V5C log book

Following

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ContactingWhere’s DVLAmy application?

Driving Tests and MOTs

If you have aapplied queryonline, aboutyour drivingapplication tests or MOTs, you will need to contact DVSA. DVLA is notalready responsiblebeing forprocessed. drivingThere testsare orno MOTs.

Contactdelays Centre

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Paper onapplications

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Customer reception

DVLA’sWe’re customersorry receptionfor inany Swanseainconvenience is currently closed. Please do not travel for this purposemay ascause thereand isour nostaff public access to the site.

Paper applications

Paper applications are likelyworking tohard take up to 6reduce weekswaiting totimes. process,There but there may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions. Therecases, isfor noexample, needif tomedical phoneinvestigations toare chaseneeded up your application during this time as wepart areof dealingyour withdriving alllicence paperapplication.

Identity applicationsdocuments

If asyou quicklyneed asto possibleinclude andproof inof theidentity orderwith inyour whichapplication, theymake are received.

Identity documents

Make sure you only send in what is required and that you check requirements on GOV.UK before you post your application.

There is no need to send us a UK passport if you’ve provided us with a passport number on your application form.

If you need to post original ID documents such as passports or Biometric Residency Permits to us, we recommend that you consider using registered post.

Please do not send passports and other documents by post if you are planning to travel in the immediate future,future. andIf allowyou atapply leastby post with a paper application, you need to allow between 6 to 810 weeks for processing.

RenewingProcessing adates drivingfor licencepaper applications

Extension

The following information lists the date we are currently working on for drivingour licencesmost thatpopular expiredpaper betweenapplications. 1The Februaryinformation andbelow 31will Decemberbe 2020

If

We are processing paper applications in the UKorder we receive them. If you sent your application after the dates shown above, please do not contact us as it has not been automaticallyprocessed extended,yet.

If thenyou sent your application before the dates listed above, please allow 6 to 10 weeks from when you mustsent renewyour application to receive your licencevehicle and driving documents, before you cancontact drive abroad.us.

TheYou extensioncan onlycheck appliesif toyour fullnew GBlicence has been issued by using our view driving licence holders.service. ItThe does‘licence notvalid applyfrom todate’ provisionalwill drivingbe the date your last licence entitlement.was issued. Once your licence has been issued please allow 2 weeks from the ‘licence valid from date’ to be received.

If*Please you’venote alreadythat appliedif toyou renewdo not receive your photocardV5C orvehicle entitlementregistration certificate within 6 weeks, you canwill continueneed to drivecontact us.

Driving while wean application is being processed

We are processingreceiving a high volume of enquiries about driving while your driving licence application providingis youwith haveDVLA. notIf your application has been toldsent byto DVLA, you may be able to continue to drive while we are processing your doctorapplication. orThis opticianapplies thatto youmost shouldtypes notof drive.application. For further information about this, seeread the guidance leaflet ‘Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?’

By law, all drivers must make sure that they always meet the medical standards for fitness to drive when driving. Find more information about driving with a medical condition.condition.

Contacting DVLA

Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm. Demand is currently extremely high on our phone lines and there are currently long waiting times to get through. For all general enquiries, use the Contact DVLA service to access our 24 hour chatbot or email services. You can also follow us on Twitter or use our online services to solve your query.

Driving tests and MOTs

If you have a query about driving tests or MOTs, you will need to contact DVSA. DVLA is not responsible for driving tests or MOTs.

Customer reception

DVLA’s customer reception in Swansea is currently closed. Please do not travel for this purpose as there is no public access to the site due to ongoing COVID safety measures.

Renewing a driving licence

Extension for driving licences that expired between 1 February and 31 December 2020

If your photocard driving licence or your entitlement to drive expired between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2020, you have an 11-month extension from the date of expiry. This means that you do not need to renew your photocard or entitlement to drive until 11 months after your original expiry date.

You do not need to do anything as this extension is automatic and you will receive a letter around 2 months before your extension expires to remind you when to renew your driving licence. You do not need to call us during this time.

Driving abroad

If you are planning to drive abroad and your driving licence has been extended, you must renew your driving licence before you can drive abroad as the extension will not be recognised by countries outside of the UK.

The extension only applies to full GB driving licence holders. It does not apply to provisional driving licence entitlement.

This table shows the renewal dates based on the 11-month extension period:

If your driving licence expires on or after 1 January 2021

You will need to renew it as normal.normal and you’ll receive a letter to remind you when to renew your driving licence. The quickest and easiest way is to apply online.

If you are unable to renew your licence onlineonline, find more information on other ways to apply. This includes advice on taking your own photograph if a new photograph is required. You will need to print your digital photograph and attach it to the application form to renew your licence.

Bus and lorry drivers – D4 medical updates

The government has made temporary arrangements for bus and lorry drivers aged 45 and over to forego the need for a D4 medical to renew their driving entitlement. These changes are temporary and will only apply where the licence has not expired before 1 January 2020.

The licence will only be valid for 1 year instead of 5 years and the driver will need to submit a completed D4 when the licence is due for renewal in 12 months. Drivers with health issues will still need to declare these, and those with health issues that prevent them from driving safely will not have their licence renewed. All drivers must ensure they are medically fit to drive.

Applying to renew a driving licence if you have a medical condition

If you have a health condition requiring further information orfrom examinations,your thereGP areor currentlyconsultant delaysor beforeyou NHSrequire doctors,a consultantsphysical orexamination, opticiansyour areapplication ablemay totake providelonger usas withwe therequest further information wefrom needNHS todoctors, beconsultants, ableor opticians to make a licensing decision.

Providing you have a current driving licence and you have not been told by your doctor or optician that you should not drive, you willmay be able to drive while DVLA is considering your application and waiting for a response from NHS professionals.

Road safety is our top priority and by law, all drivers must meet certain minimum medical standards and must make sure they are medically fit to drive. All drivers must tell DVLA about the onset or worsening of a medical condition. Check if a health condition affects your driving.

You can renew your driving licence in other ways if you cannot renew online.

If you drive a bus or lorry and you need to renew your driving licence, there is specific guidance on renewing your licence you should read.

Related content

• Can I drive while my application is with DVLA? (INF188/6)
• Medical examination report for a lorry or bus driving licence (D4)
• Apply for a vehicle registration certificate (form V62)
• Information on driving licences (INS57P)
• Changes to the driving licence and categories