How to replace a lost driving licence
If you have lost your driving licence, had it stolen, or the card has been damaged, you can apply for a replacement online at gov.uk for £20. Your driving entitlement is held in the DVLA database - it does not live in the card - so you have not lost your right to drive. Here is how to apply, what you need, and what to do if it was stolen.
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Can you still drive without the physical card?
Yes. The driving licence exists as a DVLA database record. The photocard is evidence of the licence you hold, not the licence itself. If you have lost the card but your licence is still valid and unendorsed, your entitlement to drive has not changed. You can drive while waiting for the replacement to arrive.
You should apply for a replacement promptly. Police officers can ask you to produce your licence, and most drivers manage short-term using their driving licence number (which you may know from memory or from insurance documents) to respond to any requests in the interim. You can also generate a share code via the DVLA online check at gov.uk to confirm your current record to any third party who needs it.
If you need to use a borrowed car in the interim, one day car insurance gives you comprehensive cover in your own name without being added to the owner's policy.
What you need to apply for a replacement
To apply online at gov.uk, you need:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your current DVLA-registered address
- A valid UK passport (the DVLA extracts your current photo from the passport system)
The replacement fee is £20. The new card is typically dispatched within five to seven working days by first-class post.
If you do not have a valid UK passport, download form D1 from gov.uk or collect it from a Post Office. Complete the form and enclose a recent passport-sized photo. Postal applications take longer than online ones.
Once your replacement arrives, use the DVLA's online licence check to confirm the record is accurate and all your categories have been carried across.
What to do if your licence was stolen
Report the theft to the police first and obtain a crime reference number before applying for the replacement. This protects you if the card is used fraudulently - for example as identity documentation - after being stolen. Keep the crime reference number; you do not need to submit it as part of the DVLA replacement application, but you may need it if fraudulent use is later detected.
The DVLA replacement process for a stolen licence is identical to the process for a lost one. There is no separate route or form. Apply at gov.uk or using form D1 in the usual way.
What if the original turns up after you apply?
Once DVLA processes your replacement application, your original card is cancelled in the DVLA system and is no longer valid. If the original turns up after you receive the replacement, do not use it as a driving licence or as identity documentation - it is cancelled. Destroy it by shredding or cutting.
Using a cancelled driving licence as identity documentation is document fraud. This applies even if it was your own licence before cancellation.
What if your name or address has also changed?
A replacement application is not the right route if your name or address needs updating at the same time. Use the DVLA name or address change service at gov.uk, which also issues a new card. A name change requires supporting evidence such as a marriage certificate or deed poll. If your licence is both lost and has outdated details, use the update service - DVLA will issue a correctly updated replacement in one transaction.
Can you drive while waiting for a replacement?
Yes - your driving entitlement exists in the DVLA record independently of the physical card. Once you have applied for the replacement, you can continue to drive. If you are stopped by police without the card, you can typically produce it at a police station within seven days (a HORT/1 notice). The replacement card arriving resolves this straightforwardly. If you are renting a vehicle or need to prove your licence to a hire company in the interim, generate a DVLA share code at gov.uk - it gives them read-only access to your current record without needing the physical card.
What happens if your licence is damaged rather than lost?
A damaged licence - one that is cracked, faded, or otherwise unreadable - should be replaced using the same process as a lost licence. Apply at gov.uk or by post using form D1 and pay the £20 replacement fee. You do not need to explain the type of damage. Once the replacement is ordered, treat the damaged card as cancelled and do not use it as identification.
If the damage affects only the photo - for example the surface has peeled - but the licence has also reached or is approaching its 10-year expiry, it may be worth applying for a standard renewal (£14 online) rather than a replacement if the timing works out. Renewals and replacements use the same gov.uk service; the cost difference reflects the fact that a renewal updates the photo through the passport system.
Keeping a note of your licence number
Your driving licence number is printed on the front of the photocard (field 5) and contains encoded information about your name and date of birth. It appears on all insurance application forms and is useful to know in the event your card is lost. Some people photograph the front of their licence and store it securely (separately from the card itself) so the number is available when they need it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a replacement driving licence cost?
£20 for an online application at gov.uk. Postal applications using form D1 are also available.
Can I still drive while waiting for a replacement?
Yes. Your driving entitlement is held in the DVLA database, not in the card. You can drive while the replacement is in the post.
What do I need to apply for a replacement driving licence?
Your National Insurance number, your DVLA-registered address, and a valid UK passport for online applications. Or apply by post using form D1 with a passport photo.
What should I do if my licence was stolen?
Report it to the police first and get a crime reference number. Then apply for a replacement at gov.uk using the same process as a lost licence.
How long does a replacement driving licence take to arrive?
Typically five to seven working days for an online application, sent by first-class post.
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