Address for the DVLA: Every Postal, Online and Phone Contact (2026)

Almost nobody needs to write to the DVLA these days — most services are online and faster. But when you do need a postal address, using the wrong one can add weeks of delay, because the DVLA's Swansea headquarters sorts mail into different departments by postcode. This guide gives the correct addresses for driver licensing, vehicles, V5C logbooks and document returns, plus the online and phone routes that are usually better than a letter.

The most important thing: use the right address for the right job The DVLA's main site is Morriston, Swansea. Different teams have different postcodes, and mail sent to the wrong one gets re-routed internally — slowly. Here are the key addresses (verify the postcode on GOV.UK before posting anything irreplaceable):

Licence applications and changes (photocard, address, name): DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN Returning a found old licence (after a replacement was issued): DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB — send it back with a short note explaining what happened, rather than destroying it yourself Vehicle, tax and V5C logbook enquiries: Vehicle Customer Services, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR General driver licensing correspondence: Drivers Customer Services, Correspondence Team, DVLA, Swansea, SA6 7JL Sensitive/bereavement casework (vehicles): Sensitive Casework Team, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1ZZ If you're ever unsure, the GOV.UK page for the specific service you're using will give the current postal address. Trust that over any third-party list.

Before you post anything: is there an online route? For most jobs, yes — and it's faster and usually free:

Change of address on your licence: free online at gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence, new licence in 1–2 weeks. Our full change-of-address guide covers the process and the £1,000 fine for not doing it. Replace a lost, stolen or damaged licence: £20 online via GOV.UK, around a week. See our lost licence guide. Renew your photocard photo: £14 online (free if you're 70 or over or hold a short-period medical licence). Vehicle tax, SORN, V5C changes: all handled online through GOV.UK vehicle services. View or share your driving licence information: the check-code service at GOV.UK (valid 21 days, single use) — covered in our driving licence check code guide. The DVLA does not operate a general customer email address. There are web contact forms for driver and vehicle enquiries on GOV.UK; responses come by email but you can't just email them directly.

Phone numbers Driving licence enquiries: 0300 790 6801 — Monday to Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 8am–2pm Vehicle tax, registration, SORN and V5C: 0300 790 6802 — same hours Call early (8–9am) for the shortest queues; afternoons and Saturdays are the busiest. Have your driving licence number (find it with our licence-number guide if needed), vehicle registration or V5C reference ready before you call.

DVLA vs DVSA: don't write to the wrong agency A common mistake: the DVLA and the DVSA do different jobs. The DVLA (Swansea) handles licences, vehicle registration, tax and medical fitness to drive. The DVSA handles driving tests, theory tests, instructors and vehicle safety standards. Writing to the DVLA about a driving test booking will just get your letter bounced. Our DVLA vs DVSA explainer sets out who does what.

Posting documents to the DVLA: practical rules Send originals by tracked post. Marriage certificates, deed polls and passports sent to Swansea should go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or equivalent — standard post losses are your problem to fix. Keep copies of everything you send. Postal turnaround is 3–4 weeks for licence applications; online equivalents are typically a week. Post nothing urgent. You can usually keep driving while a postal application is being processed, provided your underlying entitlement is valid — but carry proof and understand the rules first (see our lost licence guide). Which DVLA address for common tasks: the quick reference Task Address / route Change address on licence Free online (gov.uk) or post D741/D1 to SA99 1BN Change name on licence D1 form + originals to SA99 1BN (post only) Renew photocard photo £14 online; £14 + costs by post Replace lost/stolen licence £20 online; return found old licence to SA99 1AB First provisional licence £34 online; £43 by post (D1 to SA99 1BN) Vehicle tax / SORN Online via GOV.UK; queries to Vehicle Customer Services, SA99 1AR V5C logbook change Online via GOV.UK; queries to SA99 1AR Report a death (vehicles) Sensitive Casework Team, SA99 1ZZ General driver correspondence Drivers Customer Services, Correspondence Team, SA6 7JL A word on DVLA processing times and expectations The DVLA processes millions of transactions a year from Swansea. Online services are near-instant to submit and typically complete within a week; postal queues run 3–4 weeks and stretch further at peak times (September plate-change season, post-Christmas). If a postal application is time-critical — a licence needed for a job start, for example — submit online instead, or chase by phone with your reference details ready. Complaining to the wrong postcode only restarts the clock.

One more practical point: the DVLA will never phone or text you demanding payment for a licence issue, and it never asks for bank details by email. "DVLA" scam texts about vehicle tax refunds and licence expiry are common — delete them and go to GOV.UK directly if you're worried. (Our lost licence guide has a fraud-protection section worth reading.)

A quick note on waiting for the DVLA If your letter or application is genuinely urgent — a licence needed for a new job, a vehicle you can't tax — don't just re-post and hope. Phone the right number (6801 for licences, 6802 for vehicles) with your licence number or vehicle registration ready, early in the morning, and ask for the current queue position. The phone team can see whether your application is in the system; a letter sitting in the wrong department can be flagged for internal transfer rather than returned to you to start again.

And keep your own evidence: a certificate of posting is free at the Post Office counter and proves you sent something on a date — invaluable if a postal application goes missing and you need to show you applied in good time.

Frequently asked questions What is the DVLA's postal address? It depends on the service: licence matters go to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BN; vehicle/V5C matters to Vehicle Customer Services, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. Always confirm on GOV.UK before posting.

Can I email the DVLA? There is no general DVLA email address. Use the GOV.UK web contact forms for driver or vehicle enquiries.

What are the DVLA phone numbers? 0300 790 6801 for driving licences, 0300 790 6802 for vehicles. Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–2pm.

How long does DVLA post take? Allow 3–4 weeks for postal licence applications. Online applications are typically processed within about a week.

I found my old licence after getting a replacement. What do I do? Don't destroy it. GOV.UK says to return it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB, with a note explaining what happened. Only the most recently issued licence is valid.

Is the DVLA the same as the DVSA? No. DVLA = licences and vehicle records (Swansea). DVSA = tests and instructors. Don't mix them up — see our DVLA vs DVSA guide.