Changing address with DVLA

[KarlaKK]

Hi, I sold my house last year but onward purchase fell through so I've been living in a hotel, waiting to find something else. As I haven't had a permanent address my old address is with the DVLA. Does anyone know if I can use a friend's address with their permission. Worried about phoning DVLA to ask in case it comes out I haven't lived at old address for a year. Can't find anything on DVLA website about this or Gov.UK. Some places say friend's address is ok but I don't want to break the law. If anyone knows for sure thanks in advance.

According to the gov.uk website you are supposed to notify any new address, even if only living there temporarily unless you can still be contacted at your old address. Failure to do so is an offence and you could be fined. You could always call DVLA and get advice on a no-names basis. Or you could do nothing in the basis that your probably unlikely to get found out/be penalised. What I would NOT do in your shoes is provide false information to DVLA by telling them you're living at your friend's address if that's not true.

Your driving license, car and insurance should all be registered to your home address. Are you changing all 3 to your friends? You really should contact the dvla and your insurance to discuss.

Thanks. I went abroad for three months so couldn't use that address. Some places online are saying it is to do with being contactable in case of a fine. I'm still having post redirected so am contactable. Insurance were happy for me to use friend's address even though I said I wouldn't be there all the time as relocating. I'm moving about to different hotels so can't change my address every few weeks. I can't be the only person in this situation - people sell up and go travelling in a van. They wouldn't have an address either.

We lived in a narrowboat continuously cruising for 23 years. We just used a mailbox address (not Royal Mail) for everything including dvla/banks/car insurance/nhs etc etc. it was totally fine. Lots of boaters also use friends and family addresses (with permission). Again all fine, its really an address at which you are contactable. The only thing to note was that we did have to inform the car insurance if our nomadic lifestyle even though we had a mailbox address - again this was fine and no extra premium was ever charged as a result.

we preferred to be independent of relying on others for this type of thing. Google is your friend for finding a suitable mailbox service for your needs.

Thanks so much Alphabet. From what I'm reading it is more an address to be contactable rather than necessarily an address you're permanently living at, which you've confirmed. So many people living on boats like you or in vans. What do travellers do? They don't have a permanent address either. The DVLA don't seem to explain this clearly. Banks are another thing but you say your bank didn't mind?

Exactly. It’s an address at which you can be contacted. A private mailbox or a willing friend /family can provide this service. Just ensure that you are contactable via phone /text/email should the need arise. We never had any problems. It is even easier today as so much can be done electronically, which is quicker and much more convenient than Royal Mail.

many institutions are beginning to accept that there are alternative ways of living which do not involve living in bricks and mortar. Even with those that don’t, a mailbox is a perfect way around the ‘no address’ issue. - if you can’t/don’t have family or friends to help. Yes it’s expensive to use a mailbox, and family/friends would be cheaper. But we don’t all have that luxury! A private (not Royal Mail) mailbox address gives you a regular style address, as they are listed as ‘flat 123 / suite 123’ rather than ‘mailbox 123’. So nobody needs to know your circumstances, unless legally you have to inform them eg car insurance for the service to be legally valid. Dvla does not fall into this category - so long as you can be contactable via the address.

the only time we had a problem was not being registered for paying council tax - this limited our options for getting a loan (if we wanted one) to just being able to approach our own banks, credit card company and other institutions with which we held financial accounts. So a very minor issue and only one that would occur if you are planning a traveller lifestyle for longer than a year.

Thanks ever so much Alphabet. Really appreciate the detail. I have now changed address with the DVLA online. Person at DVLA also confirmed it can be a friend's address. Next is V5C and bank. Had a look online and it seems the bank can be done online too and no need to take any bills in the name and address. I wasn't expecting that. Even if you go into a branch you only need photographic ID and no mention of an address. I think I've been worrying unnecessarily. Thanks again :)