Everyone knows how difficult it can be to move. It’s bad enough that you have to pack up your whole life into boxes (and unpack later!), but you’ll also have to be sure that your life gets back on track as soon as possible with electricity and internet and water and gas and taxes and pensions… The list seems endless!
Unfortunately, that’s not nearly the end of it. Many drivers fail to realise that failing to update their licence when they move could result in some unintentional lawbreaking.
This is because you must notify the DVLA of your new address or risk paying a hefty fine — up to £1,000! If you don’t want that to happen, study how to update your driver’s licence address 📍
You can now update both your driving licence & V5C using SlothMove’s online change of address service. In this 3-minute form, you can also organise & update your address across hundreds of other businesses (DVLA, HMRC, NHS, Boots, Tesco, Pensions etc..) at the same time.
After completing the form, you will receive a confirmation email from the DVLA. Driving licenses usually arrive within 2 weeks of your submission. You can update your driving license and logbook in minutes by entering your moving information below 👇
Angel
“Absolutely fabulous service they did everything for me and took the extra stress of moving away ! I highly recommend SlothMove! Great company thank you”
After using SlothMove’s change of address you will receive an email confirmation from the DVLA about your driving licence update. You can then expect your driving licence in approximately 14 days.
Thankfully, it’s not too hard to update your address with any government service, the DVLA included! So with that said, in this article, we’ll take you through a quick list of all the services you’ll need to keep your address up-to-date.
Then, we’ll take you through how to change the address on your driving licence step-by-step so you can avoid that heavy fine!
So, how do you update your address with the DVLA?
If you’re planning to move homes in the UK, you should know that there are a great many companies and organisations that you need to inform about your change of address.
Depending on the service, you need to get this sorted, so they can continue communicating with you. In the case of government services especially, make sure that you get the appropriate services you need without a hitch 👍
With that said, here are some of the services you’ll need to update your address with when moving homes:
Take the hassle and stress out of your move and update your address with hundreds of companies
Pam
“SlothMove is a fantastic company to help anyone moving home who needs to save time and remove the stress of contacting all those organisations who require your change of address details.
They are friendly, professional, trustworthy, and reliable and keep you updated on progress.
Do not hesitate to contact them – you will be pleased you did!”
As we’ve mentioned, when you move homes, there are multiple address changes you need to complete, including the DVLA. However, with the DVLA itself, there are a few separate things you’ll need to update your address with, such as your driving licence, car reg, tax and even your V5C logbook — as long as you haven’t lost your logbook of course. Fortunately, updating the address on your driving licence yourself is super simple, and we’ll show you how in this section.
Firstly, you need to decide your preferred method — basically, online or post. Once you’ve decided, jump over to the appropriate section below to find out what you need to do to change the address on your driving licence!
If you want to update the DVLA on your new address online, take these steps:
Once you’ve submitted your form, you’ll receive an email from DVLA confirming that the process is underway. Within a week of submitting your online application, you should have your newly updated driver’s licence in your mailbox!
However, be aware that the wait time could increase depending on the volume of applications received by the DVLA. Three weeks after submitting the online form is the maximum amount of time recommended. If you’ve waited for longer, get in touch with the DVLA immediately.
After receiving and filling out your form, you need to return it to the DVLA along with your old photocard driver’s licence. Be sure to address the envelope to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BN
If you live in Northern Ireland, the process is slightly different from Great Britain’s. Rather than applying with the DVLA, you’ll need to inform the DVA of an address change instead. Otherwise, the process is basically the same!
We know how frustrating it can be to have to update your address with all the right services — and we know how easy it is to miss some! That’s why we’re here to help. At Slothmove, we provide a convenient online change of address service if you’ve recently moved homes and have multiple services you need to notify of your new address. With Slothmove’s assistance, you can change your address anywhere it needs to be changed all in one go!
If you are a learner driver with a provisional licence or a licenced driver with a full licence, you must notify the DVLA of your new address. The process may seem like a fuss, but crucial factors necessitate it. Spending half an hour filling out documents is still preferable to paying a £1,000 fine, obviously!
First, if you move homes, be sure to update your information with the DVLA so that they can reach you if they need to. It’s important to do so because there may be dire repercussions for failing to do so later. If you need to file an insurance claim, but your driver’s licence address doesn’t match the one on file, the process could take weeks. Or if your licence is ever lost, the person who finds it can return it to you at the correct address — or the police. Don’t worry; you’ll be able to keep driving while DVLA sends over your replacement licence!
You should also know that as long as the DVLA can still reach you at a permanent home address, you don’t need to notify them of temporary address changes — like if you’ve moved to a university dorm or are taking a two-month-long holiday to Dublin, for example!
The amount of time you’ll have to wait for your new licence depends on which method you decide to use to update the DVLA. If you’ve updated your address online, expect to wait about a week. However, expect to wait for up to three weeks if you decide to go the old-fashioned way and send your application by post.
You can change your address by completing the D741 form that came with your photocard licence from the DVLA. If you’ve managed to find the form, first of all, congrats! All that’s left to do now is complete the “changes” section.
Lost your D741 form? Fear not! A licence application form is available at any post office and can even be ordered online — you can find DVLA forms on GOV.UK. You’ll need Form D1 if you are operating a motor vehicle, including a car or motorcycle. But, it will be Form D2 if you’re operating a large vehicle like a bus or truck.
Remember to include your passport number and a passport photo with your D1 form submission. Find out the alternative forms of identification that can be used in place of a passport on GOV.UK.
If you want to change your name on your driving licence at the same time as changing your address, you’ll only be able to do so via post.
In a nutshell, fill up a D1 order form (or Form D2, if you have a truck or lorry licence) and post it to DVLA with the same address as above. You must also submit either of the following original documents to the DVLA after changing your name:
When changing your name and address, you will also need to give the DVLA your old driver’s licence that displays your former name.