Losing or damaging your driving licence can be frustrating, particularly if you need proof of your driving entitlement for work, car hire, insurance or other official purposes. Fortunately, obtaining a replacement driving licence UK drivers need is generally straightforward through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
If your Great Britain driving licence has been lost, stolen, damaged, defaced or destroyed, you can apply for a replacement. The current DVLA fee is £20, and eligible applicants can apply online. GOV.UK says an online replacement should normally arrive within one week.
This comprehensive guide explains how the replacement driving licence UK process works, how much it costs, how to apply online or by post, what happens if your licence was stolen, and what you should do if you find your original licence after requesting a replacement.
For more UK driving licence information, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
Important: This guide concerns Great Britain — England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland operates a separate driving licence system.
What Is a Replacement Driving Licence UK?
A replacement driving licence UK application is used when an existing Great Britain driving licence is no longer available or usable.
You may need a replacement if your licence has been:
- Lost
- Stolen
- Damaged
- Defaced
- Destroyed
The DVLA online service allows eligible drivers to replace both full driving licences and provisional driving licences.
A replacement is different from applying for your first licence or renewing an expired licence. If you have never held a provisional licence, for example, you normally need to make a first provisional licence application instead.
Read our related guide to driving licence application for more information.
How to Apply for a Replacement Driving Licence UK
For most eligible drivers, applying online is the simplest option.
The general process is:
- Visit the official GOV.UK replacement service.
- Sign in to your DVLA account.
- Provide the requested information.
- Confirm your details.
- Pay the replacement fee.
- Submit your application.
- Keep your confirmation email.
- Wait for your new licence to arrive.
GOV.UK states that you need to sign in to use the online service. If you do not already have sign-in details, you can create them during the process. DVLA may also tell you if you need to prove your identity.
You can also learn more about related online services in our driving licence online application guide.
Step-by-Step Replacement Driving Licence UK Process
1. Check That Your Licence Is Actually Lost
Before starting a replacement application, search carefully for your existing licence.
Check:
- Your wallet or purse
- Your car
- Your home
- Your office
- Bags and luggage
- Recent travel belongings
- Places where you recently presented identification
If you still cannot find your licence, you can proceed with the replacement process.
If you are specifically dealing with a lost licence, our lost driving licence UK guide provides additional information.
2. Determine Whether Your Licence Was Stolen
If you believe your driving licence was stolen rather than simply misplaced, GOV.UK advises contacting the police.
You can then apply for a replacement through DVLA.
A stolen driving licence should be dealt with promptly because it contains personal information that could potentially be misused.
3. Check Your Personal Details
Before applying for your replacement driving licence UK, consider whether your circumstances have changed.
For example:
- Have you moved house?
- Has your name changed?
- Has your photograph changed?
- Do you have another personal detail that needs updating?
If your address has changed, DVLA provides a separate service for changing your address. Changing an address on a photocard licence is normally free when using the appropriate service.
You can learn more about checking your licence information in our driving licence status guide.
4. Sign In to Your DVLA Account
The online replacement service requires you to sign in.
The DVLA Driver and Vehicles Account provides access to several driving-related services, including licence replacement and access to driving information.
This makes the online system useful for drivers who need to manage more than one aspect of their licence.
5. Complete the Application
Follow the instructions shown by DVLA and enter the information requested.
Take care when entering your personal information.
Before submitting the application, check that the details you have provided are accurate.
6. Pay the Replacement Fee
The current fee for replacing a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed GB driving licence is £20.
The replacement fee applies to the relevant replacement service rather than the standard first provisional licence or renewal fee.
7. Submit Your Application
After reviewing your information and making the payment, submit the application.
DVLA says you will receive a confirmation email after applying online.
Keep the confirmation email until your new licence arrives.
How Much Does a Replacement Driving Licence UK Cost?
The current fee for a replacement driving licence is £20 when the licence has been lost, stolen, damaged, defaced or destroyed.
It is important to distinguish this from other DVLA transactions.
| DVLA service | Current fee |
|---|---|
| Replace lost driving licence | £20 |
| Replace stolen driving licence | £20 |
| Replace damaged driving licence | £20 |
| Replace destroyed driving licence | £20 |
| First provisional licence online | £34 |
| Renew expired licence online | £14 |
These fees apply to Great Britain and can change, so check the latest official GOV.UK information before submitting an application.
For more information about applying for a first licence, visit our provisional driving licence UK guide.
How Long Does a Replacement Driving Licence UK Take?
The time required depends on the application method and whether DVLA needs additional information.
Online application
GOV.UK states that your replacement licence should arrive within one week if you apply online.
Postal application
A postal replacement should generally arrive within approximately three weeks. It may take longer if DVLA needs to check your medical or personal details.
Therefore, if you are eligible for the online service, applying online is usually the more convenient option.
Can I Get a Replacement Driving Licence Online?
Yes.
Eligible Great Britain residents can use the DVLA online service to replace a full or provisional driving licence that has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
To use the service, you must:
- Be resident in Great Britain.
- Not be disqualified from driving.
- Provide the information requested by DVLA.
- Pay the applicable replacement fee.
DVLA may also require you to prove your identity during the application.
For related information, read our check driving licence online guide.
Can You Replace a Provisional Driving Licence?
Yes.
The DVLA replacement service covers provisional driving licences as well as full driving licences.
This is particularly relevant to learner drivers who have lost their provisional licence while taking driving lessons or preparing for their theory or practical test.
However, if you have never had a provisional licence before, you need to apply for your first provisional licence rather than a replacement.
Read our first provisional driving licence guide for more information.
What If Your Driving Licence Was Stolen?
If your licence was stolen, contact the police as advised by GOV.UK.
After dealing with the theft, you can apply for a replacement through DVLA.
The current replacement fee is £20.
If you are looking for information specifically about replacing a stolen or missing licence, see our lost driving licence article.
Can You Replace a Damaged Driving Licence?
Yes.
If your photocard has been significantly damaged or defaced, you can apply for a replacement driving licence.
Damage may include:
- Cracks
- Severe scratches
- Broken cards
- Water damage
- Illegible information
- A damaged photograph
- Other physical damage
The current replacement fee is £20.
Can You Replace a Destroyed Driving Licence?
Yes.
A driving licence that has been destroyed can also be replaced through the DVLA replacement service.
For example, you may have accidentally disposed of it or it may have been destroyed with other personal documents.
The replacement process is the same general process used for lost, stolen or damaged licences.
Can You Apply for a Replacement Driving Licence by Post?
Yes.
If you cannot use the online service, DVLA also provides postal options.
For a car or motorcycle licence, you generally need form D1.
For a lorry or bus licence, you generally need form D2.
D1 and D2 forms are available from most Post Offices.
You will need to send the completed application with the appropriate fee and any required documentation.
GOV.UK states that a postal replacement should arrive in around three weeks, although additional checks can make the process longer.
Can You Apply for a Replacement Driving Licence by Phone?
In certain situations, yes.
You can apply by phone if:
- You have a photocard driving licence.
- None of your details have changed.
However, DVLA states that you cannot use the phone service if your licence is damaged or if it expires within the relevant period specified by DVLA.
If you qualify, the telephone route provides another alternative to an online application.
What Information Do You Need for a Replacement Driving Licence?
The exact requirements depend on your circumstances and application method.
You should be prepared to provide information such as:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Current address
- Driving licence information, if available
- Other personal information requested by DVLA
- Payment information
If your name has changed, additional documentation may be required.
If your licence has been lost, stolen or destroyed, DVLA has procedures for applicants who cannot provide their old licence.
What If Your Address Has Changed?
If you have moved house, make sure DVLA has your current address.
The address on your driving licence should reflect your current residential address.
Changing the address on a photocard driving licence is normally free. However, if your licence is also lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, the replacement process and £20 fee may apply.
For more information about checking licence details, read our check licence status guide.
What If Your Name Has Changed?
A change of name is handled differently from a straightforward replacement.
GOV.UK states that if you change your name, you generally apply by post and provide original documents confirming your new name.
If your old licence has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you can still apply, but you need to explain what happened and pay the applicable £20 replacement fee.
Replacement Driving Licence UK vs Renewal
One of the most common sources of confusion is the difference between replacement and renewal.
Replacement
You need a replacement when your existing licence has been:
- Lost
- Stolen
- Damaged
- Defaced
- Destroyed
The current fee is £20.
Renewal
You normally renew when your photocard licence is expiring.
GOV.UK currently lists the online renewal fee as £14 for an expired driving licence. Photocard licences are normally renewed every 10 years unless otherwise stated.
Therefore, do not select the renewal service simply because you need a new physical card. If your existing licence has been lost or stolen, use the replacement service.
Can You Check Your Driving Record While Waiting?
Yes.
You can access your driving information through DVLA’s online services.
Depending on the service available to you, you can check information relating to:
- Driving entitlement
- Penalty points
- Disqualifications
- Driving record
- Vehicles you can drive
This can be useful if you have lost your physical licence and need access to your driving information.
For more information, visit our check driving record guide.
What Is a DVLA Licence Check?
A DVLA licence check allows relevant driving information to be accessed or verified.
Depending on the particular service, drivers can check aspects of their driving record and entitlement.
This can be useful when:
- Hiring a car
- Checking penalty points
- Reviewing your driving record
- Confirming driving entitlement
- Sharing relevant driving information
Read our detailed DVLA licence check guide.
What Is a Driving Licence Check Code?
A driving licence check code allows you to share your driving record with another person or organisation.
For example, you may be asked to provide a check code when hiring a vehicle.
This is particularly useful when you do not have your physical licence immediately available.
For more information, read our driving licence check UK guide.
What Happens After Applying for a Replacement Driving Licence?
After an online application, DVLA will send a confirmation email.
If the application is straightforward, GOV.UK says the replacement should arrive within approximately one week when applying online.
When your replacement arrives, check the information carefully.
Pay particular attention to:
- Your name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Photograph
- Driving categories
- Licence dates
If anything appears incorrect, contact DVLA through the appropriate official channel.
What If You Find Your Old Licence?
This can happen after you have already applied for a replacement.
If you find your original licence after applying for or receiving the replacement, GOV.UK states that you must return the old licence to DVLA and explain what happened.
Do not keep both cards and use them interchangeably.
The replacement should become your current licence document.
Do You Need to Carry Your Physical Driving Licence?
Although having your licence with you can be useful, GOV.UK notes that drivers are not generally required to carry a driving licence whenever they drive. However, you must have been issued a valid licence for the vehicle category you are driving.
Nevertheless, replacing a missing licence is recommended because the physical document may be needed for identification or other practical purposes.
Replacement Driving Licence UK Checklist
Before submitting your application, use this checklist:
- Check that your licence is genuinely missing.
- Determine whether it was lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
- Contact the police if you believe it was stolen.
- Check whether your address has changed.
- Check whether your name has changed.
- Gather the required personal information.
- Sign in to the official DVLA service.
- Complete the application.
- Pay the £20 replacement fee.
- Keep your confirmation email.
- Wait for the replacement licence.
- Check your new licence when it arrives.
- Return the old licence if you subsequently find it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Applying for a New Licence Instead of a Replacement
If you have already held a valid licence, losing your photocard does not normally mean that you need to start the licensing process again.
Use the replacement service.
2. Confusing Replacement With Renewal
A lost licence needs to be replaced. An expiring licence needs to be renewed.
These are separate DVLA services with different fees.
3. Using an Unofficial Website for the Transaction
Search engines contain many websites offering information about driving licences.
An informational website can help you understand the process, but you should use the official GOV.UK service when completing the actual government transaction.
4. Forgetting to Update Your Address
If you have moved, make sure DVLA has your current address.
5. Keeping Your Old Licence After Finding It
If DVLA has issued a replacement and you subsequently find the original, follow the official instructions for returning it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a replacement driving licence UK?
The current DVLA fee for replacing a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed Great Britain driving licence is £20.
How long does a replacement driving licence take?
An online replacement should normally arrive within one week. A postal replacement should generally arrive within three weeks, although additional checks can cause delays.
Can I replace my UK driving licence online?
Yes. Eligible Great Britain residents can apply online to replace a full or provisional driving licence.
Can I replace a lost provisional driving licence?
Yes. The DVLA replacement service covers provisional driving licences as well as full licences.
What if my driving licence was stolen?
Contact the police and then apply for a replacement through DVLA.
Can I replace my licence by post?
Yes. You can generally use form D1 for car and motorcycle licences or D2 for lorry and bus licences.
Can I replace my licence by phone?
You may be able to if you have a photocard licence and none of your details have changed. Certain circumstances, including a damaged licence, make the telephone route unavailable.
What happens if I find my old licence after getting a replacement?
You must return the old licence to DVLA and explain what happened.
Final Thoughts
The replacement driving licence UK process is relatively simple for most eligible Great Britain drivers.
If your licence has been lost, stolen, damaged, defaced or destroyed, you can normally apply for a replacement rather than starting the licensing process from scratch.
The key points are:
- The current replacement fee is £20.
- Full and provisional licences can be replaced.
- Online applications are available to eligible Great Britain residents.
- An online replacement should normally arrive within one week.
- Postal applications generally take around three weeks.
- Stolen licences should be reported to the police.
- A change of address should be reported to DVLA.
- If you find your old licence after receiving a replacement, return it to DVLA.
For more useful information about DVLA driving licences, licence applications, driving records, licence checks and UK driving licence services, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
Disclaimer: UKDVLADrivingLicence.com is an independent informational website and is not the official DVLA or GOV.UK website. For an actual government transaction, use the official GOV.UK service.