How to Renew Driving Licence Without Passport: A UK Guide
To continue driving legally, you must keep your papers up-to-date and need to renew your driving licence every 10 years without delay. Thankfully, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has made renewal pretty straightforward. If you have a UK passport, you can easily renew online and get your UK driving licence within a week.
But what if you don’t have a passport?
No worries, because you can still renew your paper or photocard driving licence without a passport. This guide will walk you through the available options and the required steps. Let’s get started!
No Valid Passport = No Applying Online
But first, let’s make it clear:
If you don’t have a passport, you will not be able to apply for your driving licence online through the DVLA website.
The thing is, the online service requires a valid UK passport as a means of identification (and they also use your passport photo for your new driving licence).
It may seem restrictive for those who don’t possess a passport, but the good news is that you don’t have to apply online. In fact, there are two viable alternatives! You can renew your driving licence either at a Post Office or by post—both options are outlined below.
How to Renew Your Driving Licence Without a Passport
Renew at a Post Office
If DVLA sent you a renewal reminder letter containing an application form (about 90 days before the expiry date), find a suitable post office (use their official branch finder to make sure it provides the photocard renewal service) and bring the following:
-
Reminder Letter (if you don’t have one, see the paragraph below).
-
Old Photocard Licence: (not a strict requirement; however, if you have your current licence, you should bring it).
-
Fee: Be prepared to pay £21.50. You can make this payment right at the Post Office (if you want to use a debit or credit card, make sure this branch can take it).
In case you don’t have a reminder letter (for example, you’ve lost it or never received one), you can still renew your licence. Just make sure you have your photocard driving licence with you.
An important note: you cannot apply at the Post Office if your name has changed. If this is the case, your only option is to apply by post (and also avoid waiting in line).
Renew by Post
Renewing your driving licence by post is another viable option if you don’t have a passport. Although this is a less friendly process, there’s nothing too difficult. Here’s what you need to do:
-
Get a D1 Pack: This is a set of all the application forms required to renew your driving licence. You can either download it (just search something like ‘download d1 form’ and hit the gov.uk link) or get one at any Post Office that deals with DVLA photocard renewal or vehicle tax.
-
Complete the Forms: Fill out the driving licence renewal forms in the D1 pack carefully, ensuring that you provide accurate information. The forms are pretty self-explanatory, so you shouldn’t have any trouble completing them.
-
Include a Picture: Enclose a passport-style photo to your application. Ensure your new photo is recent and do not sign the back of it! To get a picture as soon as possible, use our online service to create a driving licence photo in a minute.
-
Include Your Old Licence: If you have a current photocard driving licence, you should include it with your application.
-
Take Care of the Payment: Prepare a cheque or postal order for £17, payable to DVLA. Please note that you don’t need to pay the fee if you’re 70 or older or have a short-term medical driving licence.
-
Send the Application: Once you’ve completed the above steps, you can mail your application form to the following address:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1DH
An Important Note on Name Change: If you’ve changed your name, make sure to include the necessary identity documents to support the change when renewing your driving licence:
Since you don’t have a passport, you need to provide one of the following:
-
a share code (if you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ or ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app)
-
a valid foreign passport (non-EU or EEA) with a stamp confirming that you’re allowed to live in the UK
-
a valid Irish passport (no stamp required)
-
a biometric residence permit
-
a UK birth certificate or adoption or naturalisation certificate (in this case, further proof is required)
-
proof that you get a state pension
After Applying
No matter whether you’ve used a Post Office to have your application submitted or simply sent it by post, you can expect your renewed driving licence to arrive within 3 weeks. However, it’s essential to note that it might take longer if your application requires additional checks, such as medical or personal details verification.
The good news is that you can continue driving while waiting for your new licence to arrive. Just make sure to keep a copy of your renewal application and any relevant documents in your vehicle, as this will serve as evidence that you’re driving legally.
Wrap-Up
Never take it too long with renewing your licence! If you’re caught driving without it (or with an expired licence), you may get a fine of £1000 along with penalty points, not to mention the dangers that can come from an unlicensed driver. So, make sure to take care of it every 10 years.
Thankfully, renewing your driving licence without a valid passport is entirely feasible, thanks to the straightforward processes provided by the DVLA. Whatever renewal method you choose, following these steps will ensure that you can continue driving legally. Remember to plan ahead: you need to renew your driving licence allowing some time for the processing and delivery to avoid inconveniences. Safe travels!