What DVLA handles
DVLA (the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) is the government body responsible for maintaining registers of drivers and vehicles in Great Britain. Its main areas of work are driving licences, vehicle registration, road tax, and medical fitness to drive.
Driving licences. Applying for a first licence, renewing a photocard licence every 10 years, replacing a lost or damaged licence, updating your address, adding provisional entitlements, and medical licence reviews. Provisional licences for learner drivers also go through DVLA.
Vehicle registration. The V5C logbook (also called the registration certificate) is issued and maintained by DVLA. When you buy or sell a vehicle, change address, or scrap a car, you notify DVLA through the V5C process. DVLA also handles SORN declarations for vehicles taken off the road.
Road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty). Taxing your vehicle for road use, checking whether a vehicle is currently taxed, paying outstanding tax, and registering a vehicle as SORN if you are taking it off the road. Road tax must be renewed annually or can be set up by direct debit.
Medical enquiries. Certain medical conditions affect your legal fitness to drive and must be declared to DVLA. These include epilepsy, poorly controlled diabetes, vision problems that fall below the required standard, and some cardiac and neurological conditions. DVLA assesses each case and may issue a licence with restrictions, require periodic review, or in some cases revoke a licence.
Number plates. Private plate transfers, retention certificates for personalised plates, and assigning a cherished number to a vehicle all go through DVLA.
How to contact DVLA
Online is almost always faster than calling. GOV.UK handles the majority of DVLA services digitally: renewing a licence, taxing a vehicle, updating address details, and declaring SORN can all be done without speaking to anyone.
There is no single DVLA phone number. Different departments handle different enquiries, and numbers change periodically. GOV.UK lists the current contact routes for each service type. Searching "contact DVLA" at GOV.UK will take you to the current options.
Phone lines are often busy. If your query can be handled online, doing it that way is quicker. If you need to call, having your driving licence number, vehicle registration, and V5C reference number ready before you dial will save time.
Things people commonly get wrong
You need to update two separate documents when you move. Your driving licence and your V5C logbook are separate records. Moving house requires updating both. Updating one does not automatically update the other. You can do both online at GOV.UK. Failing to keep your driving licence address current is technically an offence.
Selling a car: handing over the V5C is not enough. When you sell a vehicle, you must tell DVLA through the V5C itself: either online using the document's reference number, or by posting the relevant section to DVLA. If you only hand over the full V5C to the buyer without notifying DVLA, you may remain liable for road tax charges or parking fines issued after the sale until DVLA is told of the change of keeper.
Road tax does not transfer to the new owner. When a vehicle changes hands, any remaining road tax is cancelled and the original owner receives a refund for unused complete months. The new owner must tax the vehicle separately before driving it. There is no grace period for driving an untaxed vehicle.
Medical conditions: it is your obligation to tell DVLA. If you develop a medical condition that affects your fitness to drive, you are legally required to inform DVLA. Your GP may advise you to do this, but the legal obligation sits with you as the licence holder, not your doctor. DVLA has specific guidance on which conditions must be declared.
Key services: quick reference
The GOV.UK links below go directly to the relevant service pages. These cover the most commonly used DVLA tasks.
Renew your driving licence: online renewal for photocard licences.
Apply for a first provisional driving licence: for learner drivers applying for the first time.
Replace a lost or stolen licence: same process as renewal, different reason selected.
Tax your vehicle: tax online using your V5C or renewal reminder.
Check vehicle tax status: free check using registration number.
Declare SORN: take a vehicle off the road and cancel its tax and MOT requirement.
Tell DVLA you have sold your vehicle: notify DVLA of a change of keeper.
Update your V5C address: notify DVLA of your new address on the vehicle registration.
Check MOT history: free access to any vehicle's test record since 2005.
Tell DVLA about a medical condition: declarations and guidance on conditions that must be reported.
Guides on DVLA services, road tax, and vehicle admin, sent to your inbox when you need them.
Common questions about DVLA
What does DVLA stand for?▾
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. DVLA is the executive agency of the Department for Transport responsible for maintaining registers of drivers and vehicles in Great Britain. It is based in Swansea.
How do I contact DVLA by phone?▾
There is no single DVLA number. Different departments handle different enquiries. GOV.UK lists the current contact details for each service type at gov.uk/contact-the-dvla. Phone lines are often busy. If your query can be handled online, that is usually quicker.
How long does DVLA take to process a licence renewal?▾
DVLA aims to process standard photocard licence renewals within one week for online applications. Paper applications take longer, typically two to three weeks. If your current licence is expiring soon, apply online rather than by post.
Can I update my address with DVLA online?▾
Yes, for both your driving licence and your V5C logbook. These are two separate records and must be updated separately. You can update your driving licence address at GOV.UK. You can update the address on your V5C online using the document's reference number. Both are straightforward and take a few minutes.
What is a V5C logbook?▾
The V5C is the vehicle registration certificate, sometimes called the log book. It records the registered keeper of the vehicle along with details including make, model, engine size, colour, and date of first registration. The V5C does not prove ownership. It shows who is responsible for registering the vehicle. When buying or selling a car, the V5C must be updated to reflect the change of keeper.
Do I need to tell DVLA if I move house?▾
Yes. You are legally required to keep your driving licence address up to date. You should also update the address on your V5C logbook. Both can be done online at GOV.UK. They are separate processes. Updating one does not update the other.
What medical conditions do I need to declare to DVLA?▾
The list covers a wide range of conditions including epilepsy, poorly controlled diabetes, vision impairments that fall below the legal driving standard, certain cardiac conditions, and some neurological and psychiatric conditions. The obligation to declare rests with you as the licence holder. GOV.UK has a full list at gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving.
How do I tell DVLA I have sold my car?▾
You notify DVLA using the V5C logbook at the point of sale. If you have the V5C, you complete and post the relevant keeper section to DVLA and give the rest of the document to the buyer. You can also do this online at GOV.UK using the V5C's reference number. Do not simply hand over the full V5C without notifying DVLA. You may remain liable for road tax and enforcement notices until DVLA is told of the change.
What is DVSA and how is it different from DVLA?▾
DVLA and DVSA are two separate agencies and are commonly confused. DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) handles driving licences, vehicle registration, road tax, and V5C logbooks. DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) handles vehicle testing: the MOT, driving tests, theory tests, and HGV operator compliance. If your question is about an MOT or a driving test, you are dealing with DVSA, not DVLA.
Does DVLA cover Northern Ireland?▾
No. DVLA covers Great Britain: England, Scotland, and Wales. In Northern Ireland, driving licences and vehicle registration are handled by the DVA (the Driver and Vehicle Agency), which operates separately under the Northern Ireland Executive.