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Original poster

Haven't changed address on driving license - a fine when I change it?

45 replies

Drivinginmycar · 30/01/2024 21:24

Hello, I was in a busy, frazzled pickle when I moved house one and a half years ago. I saw a few days ago that you can get a fine for not changing the address promptly with the DVLA if your address isn't correct on your license.

I'm about to do it now, but if I say on the online form that I moved one and a half years ago, does anyone know if they will fine me?

Or would I only get fined if I got stopped by the police, or if my car couldn't be traced for things like parking tickets, congestion charges or ULEZ (no problems with this as all the other paperwork for the car is up to date and I have sadly had (and paid) fines.)

I realise I should have changed in, but will I automatically get fined for changing it after so long?

OP posts:
WhateverTrevorrr · 30/01/2024 21:30

I can't help with the changing over of address with dvla but I've been both stopped by police, and received a CAZ fine while having a different address on my licence and nothing has happened.

D20 · 30/01/2024 21:32

very unlikely

Original poster
Drivinginmycar · 30/01/2024 21:32

@WhateverTrevorrr Thanks for that. Useful to know. I haven't seen any information online that you get fined on changing it if you are late to do it, so I think it might be ok. the last thing I need now is a £1,000 fine.

OP posts:

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Driving & parking
TeaKitten · 30/01/2024 21:33

I took a year to change my address once and there was no fine or anything

OppsUpsSide · 30/01/2024 21:34

I did just this and applied for a new one with my new address, they sent it out no fine so far. This was a couple of months ago and it was about 15 months after my move

BookwormDadUK · 30/01/2024 21:34

I updated mine a couple of months ago, 3 years late. No fine.

Itslegitimatesalvage · 30/01/2024 21:34

I didn’t change mine for 7 years. Literally only changed it when my license expired and I had to renew… because I’m an idiot. They didn’t care, at all.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/01/2024 21:34

Nobody I've ever lived with has faced a fine for changing the address late - the person I knew who didn't change it because they thought they would get a fine if they changed it later did, though, as they were pulled over for something else.

BrightStarryNight · 30/01/2024 21:34

Don't worry I changed mine several years late and there was no issue or fines at all

AncientSkaterGirl · 30/01/2024 21:34

Highly unlikely. My dh has only just updated his 3 years after we moved 🙈 He hasn't had a fine just the normal cost of changing the address but has just discovered that now he has received it back, he will have to pay again in two months as it expires then 🙈

Ikeawarrior · 30/01/2024 21:35

I totally forgot to renew my photocard when my DC was born and was accidentally driving for a year with an invalid license. 😳never received any fine for this.

I need to renew it this year again!

Artemisduck · 30/01/2024 21:36

I changed it years after moving and my husband's was out of date for a decade - no fine was issued when we changed it!

Original poster
Drivinginmycar · 30/01/2024 21:37

Thanks all. I'm doing it online now. Phew!

OP posts:
SirSamVimesCityWatch · 30/01/2024 21:41

Ikeawarrior · 30/01/2024 21:35

I totally forgot to renew my photocard when my DC was born and was accidentally driving for a year with an invalid license. 😳never received any fine for this.

I need to renew it this year again!

Same! About 18 months for me. No issues when I finally sorted it.

Ihatewinding · 30/01/2024 21:45

I also didn't update my address for 7 years as was my parents' address so knew would receive any post there, only updated it when came up to renewal 😅

I think there's a timeframe within which you can update online or think was needed no more than one address change or something like that, anyway was refused when attempted online after most recent move, so I stuck my head under the sand for bit longer.

Then was due for renewal so got the paper form from post office and you just need to say the address on licence currently and your new one but no mention of the date you changed address 😏 then just paid whatever was more expensive fee in terms of renewal/photo/address change etc.
If can't do online then honestly get the paper form and can move on from the stress overthinking it!

Edited to add: new shiny licence came within couple of weeks and no fine!

Hummusandstuff · 30/01/2024 21:46

I was 18m late too. No fine. I was worried I might have missed a speeding ticket or something and would suddenly find out I owed loads of money! I didn’t but the next week I did get a speeding ticket. At least I found out quickly (24 mph at 06:00 in a deserted 20mph zone 😡)

cherrypickles · 30/01/2024 21:47

No it's fine to be late, you might not have driven in that time.

Car and vehicle are separate. Send it now!

cinnamonbiscuit · 30/01/2024 21:47

I did this a few months ago, I was 4 months late. I googled it and found an article about it, and someone from the DVLA was quoted as saying something along the lines of 'once you've informed us of the address change, a crime is no longer being committed, so we won't fine you'.

kroma · 30/01/2024 22:03

I asked them about this, apparently no it's fine

kroma · 30/01/2024 22:05

Sorry terrible choice of words
*apparently it's not a problem 😆

Rockfordpeach · 30/01/2024 22:05

I did mine after four years, like you I was worried I'd get fined when doing so after forgetting for so long but it was fine. I actually worried about it and put it off for about a year before doing it and kicked myself afterwards for the wasted worry

motleymop · 30/01/2024 22:06

My OH skipped a whole address on his driving licence and nothing happened.

Renardisafox · 30/01/2024 22:39

It was the one thing I forgot to do when I moved house five years ago, meant that my road tax expired, and only realised when I went to renew my MOT. I phoned DVLA, and they just said to send all the paperwork in, only(?) a £100 fine, I was dreading something more.

lioneggs · 30/01/2024 22:52

I didn't change mine for years, husband didn't either. We weren't fined

MistyMountainTop · 30/01/2024 23:50

DH only changed his when he was due to drive somewhere, previously it was still a paper license with his parent's address on it. He didn't get fined.

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