With 49 million drivers and 40 million vehicles on the road, millions of people transact with us each month. We issue around 12 million driving licences and 18 million vehicle log books annually and usually answer around 1 million phone calls each month.

Where’s my application?

We are currently operating with reduced staffing levels on site due to social distancing rules in Wales and ongoing industrial action by members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

Industrial action has been taking place since April and PCS is targeting a variety of areas within DVLA designed to have maximum negative impact on members of the public. This means that there are continuing delays with paper applications and in reaching our contact centre. There are no delays for those applying online.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused but we are working as quickly as we can to deal with your application. We receive around 60,000 items of mail every day that needs to be opened and processed.

The majority of our transactions are carried out by customers online. Online services are working as normal, so please use these where possible.

Paper applications

Currently, paper applications are likely to take 6 to 10 weeks to process. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed as part of your driving licence application.

Alternatively, if you are renewing your photocard driving licence you can do this quickly and easily at the Post Office. To find your nearest branch please use the Post Office branch finder. By using this service, you can expect your driving licence to be issued within 5 days.

We are processing all paper applications in the order we receive them. If you sent your application after the dates shown below, please do not contact us as it has not been processed yet.

If you sent your application before the dates listed below, please allow 6 weeks from when you sent your application to receive your documentation, before you contact us.

The following information lists the date we are currently working on for our most popular paper applications. The information below will be updated weekly until further notice.

Remember an online application will usually mean we can print and dispatch your licence or documents within 5 days of you applying online.

*Please note that if you do not receive your V5C vehicle registration certificate within 6 weeks, you will need to contact us.

Driving while an application is being processed

We are receiving a high volume of enquiries about driving while your driving licence application is with DVLA. If your application has been sent to DVLA, you may be able to continue to drive while we are processing your application. This applies to most types of application. For further information about this, read the guidance leaflet ‘Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?’

By law, all drivers must make sure that they always meet the medical standards for fitness to drive when driving. Find more information about driving with a medical condition.

Online services

Our online services are the quickest, easiest, and often cheapest way to deal with us. We recommend that you use our online services where possible.

If you apply online, you should receive your driving licence or vehicle registration certificate (V5C) within 5 days (it can take between 6 to 10 weeks if you post your applications to us).

Here are some of our most popular online services:

• Apply for a driving licence
• Renew a driving licence
• Replace a driving licence
• Tell us you’ve sold a vehicle
• Change your address
• Tax a vehicle
• Keep or assign a private (personalised) registration online
• Apply for a duplicate V5C log book

Identity documents

If you need to include proof of identity with your application, make sure you only send in what is required and that you check requirements on GOV.UK before you post your application.

There is no need to send us a UK passport if you’ve provided us with a passport number on your application form.

If you need to post original ID documents such as passports or Biometric Residency Permits to us, we recommend that you consider using registered post.

Please do not send passports and other documents by post if you are planning to travel in the immediate future. If you apply by post with a paper application, you need to allow between 6 to 10 weeks for processing.

Contacting DVLA

Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm. Demand is currently extremely high on our phone lines and there are currently long waiting times to get through. For all general enquiries, use the Contact DVLA service to access our 24 hour chatbot or email services. You can also follow us on Twitter or use our online services to solve your query.

Driving tests and MOTs

If you have a query about driving tests or MOTs, you will need to contact DVSA. DVLA is not responsible for driving tests or MOTs.

Customer reception

DVLA’s customer reception in Swansea is currently closed. Please do not travel for this purpose as there is no public access to the site due to COVID restrictions.

Renewing a driving licence

Extension for driving licences that expired between 1 February and 31 December 2020

If your photocard driving licence or your entitlement to drive expired between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2020, you have an 11-month extension from the date of expiry. This means that you will not need to renew your photocard or entitlement to drive until 11 months after your original expiry date.

You do not need to do anything as this extension is automatic and you will receive a letter around 2 months before your extension expires to remind you when to renew your driving licence. You do not need to call us during this time.

If your driving licence or entitlement to drive in the UK has been automatically extended, then you must renew your driving licence before you can drive abroad.

The extension only applies to full GB driving licence holders. It does not apply to provisional driving licence entitlement.

This table shows the renewal dates based on the 11-month extension period:

If your driving licence expires on or after 1 January 2021

You will need to renew it as normal and you’ll receive a letter to remind you when to renew your driving licence. The quickest and easiest way is to apply online.

If you are unable to renew your licence online, find more information on other ways to apply. This includes advice on taking your own photograph if a new photograph is required. You will need to print your digital photograph and attach it to the application form to renew your licence.

Applying to renew a driving licence if you have a medical condition

If you have a health condition requiring further information from your GP or consultant or you require a physical examination, NHS doctors, consultants and opticians are experiencing delays in providing the information or tests we need to be able to make a licensing decision.

Providing you have a current driving licence and you have not been told by your doctor or optician that you should not drive, you will be able to drive while DVLA is considering your application and waiting for a response from NHS professionals.

Road safety is our top priority and by law, all drivers must meet certain minimum medical standards and must make sure they are medically fit to drive. All drivers must tell DVLA about the onset or worsening of a medical condition. Check if a health condition affects your driving.

You can renew your driving licence in other ways if you cannot renew online.

If you drive a bus or lorry and you need to renew your driving licence.