Back to Home

  1. Home
  2. The Definitive Guide to Car Leasing
  3. Personal Car Leasing Guides
  4. Updating Your Address on Driving Documents

Updating Your Address on Driving Documents

Everyone you need to inform when changing address

We know that moving can be a stressful time, there’s a lot to manage. But one really important thing to do once you’ve moved into your new home is to update your address.

There are a number of people you’ll need to update your address with; banks, utility providers, the tv licencing agency and many more but it’s important that you remember to update your address on your driving documents.

These include:

  • Your driving licence 
  • The vehicle’s V5C 
  • The vehicle’s insurance 
  • Your lease or finance agreement 

As well as several other possible parties depending on your driving situation.

Updating the address on your driving licence

You're legally required to notify the DVLA of any changes to your details which includes your name, address and any medical conditions. This is the case regardless of whether you have a full or provisional driving licence.

If you don't notify them within a timely manner then you could face a fine of £1,000.

You can update your address online or via a postal application.

If you also need to update your name, you'll need to do this via the post, as additional proof of your name change is usually required.

You can also update your photograph if you'd like to, but there's a charge of £14 for this. Any other changes that you need to make to your details on your driving licence will be free of charge.

In order to update your address, you’ll need your current driving licence, to be a resident of Scotland, Wales or England (there’s a different process for Northern Ireland) to have the addresses for the properties you have lived for the past 3 years and to not currently be banned from driving.

Once you've completed the application you'll also need to cut your old licence in 2 pieces and post this to the DVLA. This is something you must do and isn't optional. You'll be advised of the address to send the old licence to when the application is completed and this must be done as soon as you have done so, as the licence will no longer be valid.

You'll still be able to drive while waiting for your new driving licence to arrive.

If you're moving outside of Great Britain then you won't be able to have your new address on your driving licence and need to contact the driving licence authority in your new country of residence.

You can find out more about any medical conditions you need to notify the DVLA of on the 'driving with a medical condition' section of this guide. 

Updating the address on your V5C

Another legal requirement is to update your address on the vehicle logbook, also known as the V5C or its old name, V5. Again, if you don't do this you can be fined up to £1,000 by the DVLA.

 To update the address on your V5C you can do so online or by completing the change of address section of the logbook and posting this to the DVLA.

You'll need to complete section 3 of the logbook and then return the entire V5C to the DVLA at the address provided on the form for you. Please ensure you complete the correct part of the form and not the new keeper details.

Letting your insurance provider know you’ve moved

You'll also need to let your vehicle insurance provider know that you’ve moved address.

Some providers can take these details from you before you move, provided you know the exact date you'll be moving into the new property, and put the change in place for then in advance.

Many providers take into account the type of parking you have available, whether it's a private drive or roadside parking, when calculating the cost of your policy so they might need this information before they can amend your policy.

Notifying your lease or finance company of an address change

If you're leasing a vehicle then you'll need to let your lease funder know that you've moved address and the vehicle is now kept at another property.

This will be the same if you have purchased the vehicle but are paying for it with a payment plan that's still ongoing.

Like any other finance product, it's important that you keep your information as up to date as possible and so you should notify them of any change to your name or address details as soon as possible.

If you leased your vehicle through Xcite Car Leasing and you’re unsure on who your finance company is or the best contact details for them, then you can call us on 0330 221 0000 and our Support Team will be happy to confirm the best contact number for you.

Other people you might need to notify

If you pay your vehicle tax via direct debit then you'll also need to notify them of your change of address so that your details match those from your bank and they can reach you if needed.

For those who have breakdown cover that's separate from your insurer you'll also need to notify them of any change of address, especially if you have home-start included.