What Happens if You Have the Wrong Address on Your Driving Licence?
Find Out What Happens if You Have the Wrong Address on Your Driving Licence
Is a Driving Licence Valid With the Wrong Address?
Warning! You, along with many other British motorists, could be risking £1,000 fines for having the wrong address on your driving licence.
If you fail to update the postal address on your driving licence when you move house, the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency could issue you with a hefty fine of £1,000.
Comparethemarket.com found that 4% of surveyed drivers had outdated details on their driver’s licence. With 37.5 million licence holders registered in the UK, that accounts for 1.5 million motorists with the wrong address on their driving licences.
£1,000 is a high price to pay for something that is so easy to change.
But there is no need to risk such a fine. Why? Because it is super quick and simple to update your driving licence address online using SlothMove’s online change of address service.
This Article Covers
Is it Illegal to Have the Wrong Address on Your Driving Licence?
Yes, UK law states that it is illegal to have the wrong address on your driving licence. This is because up-to-date residential information is required should the licence holder be involved in an accident.
The DVLA website is clear on the penalties for not changing the address on your driving licence when you move home, but many motorists may still not realise they’re breaking the law.
Of the motorists surveyed by Comparethemarket.com, over a third admitted that they were unaware it was illegal to have the wrong address on your driving licence.
The younger drivers among the 2045 panel of licence holders were the most unaware, with nearly half unaware this law existed at all. Meanwhile, 11% of 18 to 24 year olds confessed that their driver’s licence was registered with an old address.
As well as updating your address on your licence, you must also do so on your vehicle log book and vehicle tax Direct Debit. It is worth double checking all these details, including when your licence expires and that your photograph is up to date – these details can also incur fines if incorrect.
What if I’m Only Temporarily Moving House?
Even if you’re only moving house temporarily, you must still ensure your address is updated on your driving licence.
This means that students and many young people are affected as hundreds of thousands of students will take their vehicles to university each year. Having the wrong address on your driving licence is an offence, even if this is a temporary change.
Does My Driving Licence Address Have to Match My Insurance?
If your address is different on your driving licence and motor insurance policy it won’t invalidate your cover.
However, it is still worth making sure all your records are as accurate as possible. This is important because there are many factors, such as your postcode, that can affect your insurance premium, and ultimately how much you pay.
How Do I Change My Driving Licence Address?
So, now you know what happens if you have the wrong address on your driving licence, let’s look at how to actually change your registered DVLA address.
Luckily for you, changing your driving licence address has never been easier. By far the simplest and quickest way of updating your licence details is using SlothMove’s online moving home platform.
All you need to do to change your driving licence address is follow the simple steps below:
- 1) Head over to SlothMove’s home setup platform
- 2) Enter your details (address, name, when you’re moving)
- 3) Choose who you’d like to update (e.g. DVLA, Vehicle Log Book, Private Number Plate etc.)
- 4) Click complete and that’s all 😎 SlothMove will update your address across your accounts
Once we have all the necessary details, including your previous address, new address and move date, we’ll get to work notifying the DVLA of your relocation.
Once we have all the necessary details, including your previous address, new address and move date, we’ll get to work notifying the DVLA of your relocation.
Can I Be Fined if I Don’t Update the Address on My Provisional Licence?
So, we know that, as an experienced driver, you can receive a hefty fine if you have the wrong address on your driving licence, but what about for learners?
The circumstances are the same for learner drivers when it comes to having their driving licence details up to date. By not changing the address on their provisional driving licence, learner drivers are unwittingly breaking the law.
As with experienced drivers, a fine of up to £1,000 may be enforced if you’re caught with the wrong address on your provisional driving licence.
Once you’ve completed your provisional licence change of address, you can still drive while waiting for your new card to arrive.
Having the Wrong Address on Your Driving Licence…
So, ultimately, the moral of the story is… remember to change the address on your driving licence!
When it’s so easy to update your driving licence details, whether using SlothMove’s hassle-free service or on the DVLA website, there’s really no excuse for having the wrong address on your driving licence.
Ensure you’re not breaking the law and putting yourself at risk of a £1,000 fine by having incorrect details registered with the DVLA.
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Chloe Robinson
“I was dreading the hassle of having to update my address with all my accounts, but Slothmove makes this so so simple. I was amazed at how quickly I got everything sorted. Definitely worth the small investment, would 100% recommend. Thank you Slothmove!!”