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Renewing your photocard driving licence

DVLA will send you your reminder application 90 days before your licence is due to expire.

Car and motorcycle licence holders

Car and motorcycle licence holders will receive a D42 ‘driver licence expiry reminder and application form’ and a medical questionnaire relevant to you.

You'll need to:

• fill in the D42 form
• fill in the medical questionnaire
• include a new passport type photo if necessary
• send your documents in the prepaid envelope provided

You don't need to enclose any identification, or fee. You'll also be sent a driving licence photo renewal form if your photo is due for renewal.

Lorry and bus driving licence holders

For the renewal of lorry, minibus or bus entitlement you'll be sent a D48 ‘driver licence expiry reminder and application form’, a D4 ‘medical examination report’ and a medical questionnaire relevant to you.

You'll need to:

• fill in the D48 form
• fill in the medical questionnaire
• include a new passport type photo if necessary
• send your documents in the prepaid envelope provided

You don't need to enclose any identification, or fee.

If you are aged between 45-65, then you only need to submit a D4 if you have not done so in the last five years. From the age 65, licences are issued for one year and each renewal must be accompanied by a completed medical report form D4.

Change of name

If your name has changed since your last licence was issued, you'll also need to complete an application form. For a car or motorcycle licence you must fill in a D1 form. For a lorry, minibus or bus licence you must fill in a D2 form. The D1 and D2 forms are available from DVLA's form ordering service while the D1 is also available at Post Office® branches. You must also enclose original documents confirming your change of name.

• D1 and D2 form ordering service Opens new window

• Identity documents and photograph criteria

What to do if you don't receive your forms

If you don’t receive the reminder application forms, you need to fill in the correct form for your driving entitlement.

Car or motorcycle licence holders

You will need to fill in a D1 application form and the medical questionnaire relevant to you. D1 application forms are available from DVLA's form ordering service. You can download the relevant medical questionnaire from the medical conditions A to Z.

• Medical conditions A to Z

• D1 form ordering service Opens new window

Lorry and bus driving licence holders

You will need to fill in a D2 application form and the medical questionnaire relevant to you. D2 application forms are available from DVLA's form ordering service. You can download the relevant medical questionnaire from the medical conditions A to Z.

• Medical conditions A to Z

• D2 form ordering service Opens new window

You’ll also need to check the expiry date of your photo on your driving licence. If your photo is due to expire very soon, it’ll need to be renewed before the date of expiry. The expiry date of your photo is shown in section 4b on the front of your driving licence.

When to expect your licence

DVLA aims to finish its enquiries as quickly as possible. The time taken by DVLA to deal with your medical enquiry will depend on the medical condition you have and the information that DVLA needs to gather. If a decision can be made based on the information you originally provided, DVLA aims to make a decision within three weeks.

If DVLA needs more information about your medical condition, it aims to make a decision within 90 working days.

To do this DVLA may need more information from:

• you
• your doctor
• other sources

What to do if you do not want to renew your driving licence

If you do not want to renew your driving licence then there is no need to return any forms to DVLA. Your driving licence will expire on the date stated on the renewal forms and you will no longer hold any legal entitlement to drive.