What Do I Do If I Lose My Driving Licence?

Losing your licence is a headache and can ruin your upcoming plans. Whether you need it desperately for a trip your looking forward to or because its your only ID for going out on the weekend, here’s how to sort it.

Contact the Police

The first thing to do is let the police know as soon as you realise you've lost your licence.

Not only is it important to let the authorities know that your identification is gone, but there’s a good chance that someone will hand it in to your local station.

How to Get a Replacement

If your licence hasn’t shown up after a couple of few weeks, it’s a good time you start the process of getting a new one.

To do this you’ll need to:

• Not be disqualified from driving for any reason
• Pay a £20 replacement fee
• Provide addresses of where you've lived the past 3 years
• Prove a photo – If you give permission, the photo from your valid UK passport can be used, as long as your driving licence isn't going to expire within the next 2 years. Otherwise you'll need to request a form to change your driving licence photo.

What If My Old Licence Shows Up?

If your lost driving licence is found after you've applied for your new one, you have to let the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) know. You'll be instructed to send your original licence to DVLA so they can destroy it.