For car and motorcycle photocard licences. Enter your date of birth and the date at section 4b of the photocard to see your next renewal and the ones after it.
| Renewal | Due | Age |
|---|
Later dates are estimates that assume you renew on each expiry date; the new date is printed at 4b. Bus and lorry entitlement follows separate medical rules. Check with DVLA or the DVA if anything differs.
This driving licence renewal date calculator tells UK drivers when their car or motorcycle photocard licence next needs renewing, the earliest day to apply and what it costs in 2026. Enter your date of birth and the date at section 4b of the card, and it applies the GOV.UK rules for renewing at 70 alongside the 10 year photocard cycle, for Great Britain or Northern Ireland, then lists your next five renewal dates.
Quick answer: in Great Britain your photocard expires on the date at section 4b, every 10 years, and the licence itself expires at 70. From 70 you renew every 3 years for free, applying up to 90 days early. Under 70 it costs £14 online. The driving licence renewal date calculator shows your exact dates.
In This Guide
What Is a Driving Licence Renewal Date Calculator?
A driving licence renewal date calculator is a tool that combines your age and your photocard expiry date to show when you next have to renew. In plain words: before 70, renew the photocard on the 4b date, which comes round every 10 years; at 70, the licence expires and must be renewed; after that, renew every 3 years.
Two dates are easy to mix up. The date at 4b is when the photocard runs out. In Great Britain your entitlement to drive normally runs until your 70th birthday, so before 70 you are renewing the card and photo rather than proving you can still drive. In Northern Ireland the licence itself is renewed every 10 years, and the DVA keeps the paper counterpart that Great Britain dropped in June 2015.
How to Use the Driving Licence Renewal Date Calculator
Step 1: Enter Your Date of Birth
Your date of birth sets your 70th birthday, which is the key date for renewals in Great Britain. It is shown at section 3 of the photocard if you want to copy it exactly.
Step 2: Enter the Date at Section 4b
Section 4b on the front of the card is the expiry date. If you leave it blank, the tool estimates the next renewal from your 70th birthday, which only works if you are close to or over 70.
Step 3: Choose Where the Licence Was Issued
Pick Great Britain for a DVLA licence from England, Scotland or Wales, or Northern Ireland for a DVA licence. The application window, fees and the rules for drivers in their sixties are different.
Step 4: Read Your Renewal Dates
The large date is your next renewal, with the type of renewal above it. The tiles show the earliest day to apply, the fee, the days remaining and your 70th birthday. The table lists the next five renewals with your age at each one, marked as estimates after the first.
When Does My Driving Licence Expire?
Your photocard expires on the date at section 4b, and in Great Britain your licence expires at 70 even if the card has years left. Worked example: Margaret in Norwich was born on 14 February 1957, and her card shows 14 February 2027 at 4b. The driving licence renewal date calculator shows a renewal at 70 on 14 February 2027, free of charge, that she can apply for from 16 November 2026, when DVLA sends the D46P form. After that she renews in about February 2030, 2033 and 2036.
| Renewal | When | Apply from | Fee (Great Britain) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photocard, under 70 | Every 10 years, at the 4b date | Before the 4b date | £14 online, £17 by post |
| At 70 | 70th birthday | 90 days before | Free |
| Over 70 | Every 3 years | 90 days before | Free |
| Bus or lorry entitlement | Set by medical rules | Forms sent 56 days before | Free |
How Do I Renew My Driving Licence at 70?
You renew at 70 online on GOV.UK or by post with the D46P form, which DVLA sends 90 days before your 70th birthday. You can apply if you are 70 or over, or will be 70 in the next 90 days, and it is free. You must declare any medical conditions that affect driving and meet the eyesight standard. Once you reach 70, you must renew every 3 years.
GOV.UK lets you keep driving while a renewal is processed only if you meet all its conditions, including having your doctor's support, a previous licence that was valid and an application less than a year old. If you travel abroad after renewing, check your passport too with the passport validity checker for Europe, because both are common forms of photo ID.
How Much Does It Cost to Renew a Driving Licence?
In Great Britain the 10 year photocard renewal costs £14 online or £17 by post, and renewing at 70 or over is free by either route, according to the GOV.UK driving licence fees table. Renewing bus or lorry entitlement is also free. In Northern Ireland the DVA reminder states the fee for under 70s, and renewals at 70 or over are free if you apply no more than two months before expiry.
Is Northern Ireland Different?
Yes. nidirect says car and motorcycle licences in Northern Ireland expire every 10 years, and drivers over 60 whose licence expires before 70 get a licence valid until 70 or for three years, whichever is longer. From 70, licences are normally valid for up to three years. The DVA accepts applications up to two months before expiry and sends a reminder about two months ahead, as a courtesy rather than a duty.
- Diary the date: reminders can go astray after a house move, so note the apply from date shown by the calculator.
- Update your address first: renewing is a good time to make sure DVLA has your current address, because notices for things like a PCN discount deadline go to the registered keeper.
- Car paperwork: if you are changing cars around the same time, the first MOT due date calculator works out when a newer car needs testing.
- Lorry and bus drivers: DVLA sends the D47P and D4 medical forms 56 days before that entitlement runs out.
Results are an estimate; your new licence shows the exact expiry at 4b, so check with DVLA or the DVA if anything differs. Figures checked October 2026 against GOV.UK and nidirect.
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How we checked this tool: the Tools Veria Editorial Team built this tool by hand, checked it against the official rules or published standards where they apply, and tested it against worked examples. Results are estimates for planning, not personal financial or tax advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer, or report an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does my driving licence expire?
Your photocard expires on the date printed at section 4b, usually 10 years after it was issued. In Great Britain the licence itself expires at 70, after which you renew every 3 years. Enter both dates into the calculator to see which comes first.
How early can I renew my driving licence at 70?
You can renew if you are 70 or over, or will be 70 in the next 90 days. DVLA sends the D46P form 90 days before your 70th birthday, so someone turning 70 on 14 February 2027 can apply from 16 November 2026.
Is it free to renew a driving licence at 70?
Yes. Renewing a car or motorcycle licence at 70 or over is free online and by post in Great Britain, according to GOV.UK. In Northern Ireland it is free if you apply no more than two months before your current licence expires.
How much does it cost to renew a photocard licence?
Renewing a 10 year photocard licence in Great Britain costs £14 online or £17 by post with a cheque or postal order payable to DVLA. In Northern Ireland, the DVA renewal reminder tells you the fee that applies.
How often do you renew your licence after 70?
Every 3 years. Once you reach 70 in Great Britain you must renew every 3 years, free of charge. In Northern Ireland, licences issued to drivers aged 70 or over are normally valid for up to three years.
Can I drive while my licence renewal is being processed?
Sometimes. GOV.UK allows it only if you meet all the conditions, including having your doctor's support, holding a previous licence that was valid and having sent an application less than a year ago. Otherwise wait for the new licence.