What to do if you lose your driving licence?

We all know how important a driving licence is, but do you know what to do if you lose it? In this guide, we’ll talk through the essentials of replacing or recovering your licence.

Keep calm and drive on

Don’t panic if you lose your licence. It will not affect your entitlement to drive as the DVLA hold your record centrally. You will not have your licence cancelled, disciplined or be given any penalties for losing a licence.

Can you still drive if you’ve lost your card licence?

Yes, you can drive after losing your licence. However, you should bear in mind that a police officer can ask you to produce your licence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. If you don’t have your licence on you, you will have seven days to present it at a police station of your choice. This shows why it’s important to replace a lost driving licence.

If you still hold a paper licence, the replacement process is slightly different. You’ll need to apply by post instead.If you believe your licence has been stolen, report to the police immediately. You’ll still need to apply for a replacement.

How to apply for a replacement driving licence

The quickest way to replace your driving licence is via the government website at https://www.gov.uk/replace-a-driving-licence.

According to the government website, a new licence costs £20 (correct as of 10 September, 2026) and you can pay by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card. You will need to sign into gov.uk and provide the following information:

• Your National Insurance number
• A UK passport or form of valid photo ID
• Addresses you’ve lived at over the past three years

You can also apply for a driving licence by phone or post. To do this, you’ll need to ensure your details haven’t changed and that your licence doesn’t expire within the next 56 days. You can pick up a D1 postal application from the post office, but be aware it can take longer than applying online.

How long does it take to sort a replacement driving licence?

The DVLA states on the government website: ‘Your driving licence should arrive in 3 weeks. It might take longer if your medical or personal details need to be checked.’ You’ll get an email with confirmation once your application has been received and may receive more if the DVLA needs extra ID checks.

Postal applications tend to take a little longer. If you find your old driving licence after you have received the new one, you’ll have to return it to the DVLA (if they ask) or destroy it. Legally, you can’t hold two valid licences.

What happens if your licence is suspended or revoked?

Having a licence suspended or revoked is very different to losing it.

• A suspension is temporary and usually tied to a fixed disqualification period e.g. after receiving 12 penalty points. You’ll be able to drive once this ban ends.
• A revocation is more serious as it means you will lose your entitlement to drive.

You will either have to wait out your ban, reapply from scratch or possibly appeal the loss of your licence - but this must be done within 21 days of the revocation coming into effect.

What happens if I lose my learner driver licence?

If you’re a learner driver and lose your provisional licence, the same rules apply. You’ll still be able to practice while arranging for a replacement - as long as you’re accompanied by a qualifying supervisor, have learner driver insurance (if taking a private lesson) and displaying your L plates. You won’t have to pause any lessons. Just make sure you have a replacement on the way.