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How To Change Your Car Details When You Move In the UK

by | May 19, 2021 | House moving tips

moving house car address change

If you’re about to move house in the UK, buckle up for a bumpy ride. Relocating could be both a fun experience and a real nightmare at the same time. In the end, it all comes down to how prepared you are for a significant project like a house move. Apart from a list of packing materials for moving house, you can also use a Royal Mail moving house checklist, a moving house utilities checklist, and more.

But you’ll also need to be prepared for all the necessary changes you need to make related to any cars that you own and your driving licence. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about changing your car address and other details when you move house in the UK. Below you’ll find a complete list of actions you need to take in order to stay on the right side of the law after you’ve moved house.

Table of Contents hide
1. Inform the DVLA about moving house
2. Change of address on driving licence
3. Updating your log book (V5C) after moving
4. Road tax change of address
5. Car insurance & moving house
6. Conclusion

Inform the DVLA about moving house

The DVLA or the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is the Government branch that controls and manages the drivers and vehicles database in the UK. So do you need to tell the DVLA if you move house? In simple terms, yes, you do.

The DVLA is your go-to place for renewing or changing your driving licence, registering your car, and more. Drivers are obliged to contact the DVLA when moving address and there’s a fine for the lack of a DVLA licence moving house notification. Ideally, it’s recommended that you inform the DVLA about your house move in advance, before the actual moving date. Moving house is a complicated and time-consuming process on its own and the last thing you want to do is worry about your driving licence at the same time. Submit your change of address application with the DVLA and continue driving your car with a temporary licence.

How to change my address with DVLA

When it comes to changing your address with the DVLA, there are a few documents where the address should be changed:
  1. Driving licence
  2. Vehicle log book or V5C
  3. Road tax

Below, we’ll share detailed information about a house move change of address with the DVLA based on these three separate elements.

Change of address on driving licence

When moving home the driving licence is one of the first car-related documents that you need to worry about in terms of changing your address. The driving licence must be renewed every 10 years but even if they have not passed for you yet, you still need to change your address on the document if you’ve moved house recently.

Is it an offence not to change the address on your driving licence when you move?

In short, yes, it’s an offence to not change your address on your driving licence when you move house. In fact, drivers could be fined £1,000 if they continue to use a driver licence with an old address. This is why it’s essential to notify the DVLA of your house move. It’s worth noting that the fine is applicable for temporary moves as well. The UK Government agency must be notified even if you’ll be living elsewhere during your university studies, for a project from work, or for other reasons.

Is it an offence not to change the address on your driving licence when you move?

The moving house driving licence change happens via the DVLA. You can go through the process online or via post. Тhe online application only takes about 15 minutes to complete and send. Here’s what you’ll need for an online application for an address change on your driving licence in the UK:

  • A Government Gateway ID
  • Your driving licence
  • The address you’ve lived at over the past 3 years
  • To have the legal right to drive
  • To be a resident of Great Britain

If possible, you could also provide:

  • Your driving licence
  • Your National Insurance number
  • Your passport number

On the other hand, changing your address on your driving licence via post is a bit different. The process will be based on whether you own a photocard or paper driving licence. Although the majority of individuals prefer using the online option to save time and effort, changing your address by post is also an option people use.

For a photocard driving licence
When receiving your licence, you would have also received a letter D741. Use this document and fill in the ‘changes’ section. If you have lost your D741 form, you can also use the D1 licence application form that you can find in most Post Offices.

Once the information has been filled in, send your photocard driving licence and the completed form to the DVLA using the following address:

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BN

For paper driving licences
You’ll also need to send a post to the DVLA but this time you’ll need:

  • Your driving licence
  • Documents that can confirm your identity
  • A passport photo
  • A filled-in D1 ‘Application for a driving licence’

Is changing the address on driving licence free?

Yes, changing your address on your driving licence or provisional driving licence is completely free and can be easily done online without waiting in line or having to travel. The even better news is that you can still drive your vehicle with a temporary licence while the new one is being processed and sent to you. There are certain companies that you can partner with you can complete the change of address on your driving licence for you. Keep in mind that working with such companies will often involve a service fee.

Updating your log book (V5C) after moving

The vehicle log book or the V5C is an official document that holds specific information about a vehicle like its registration and taxation history. It registers the automobile with the DVLA. The V5C can be proof of the link between an individual and a particular vehicle and shows who looks after the car. It is also used as an official proof of ownership over a vehicle. It’s a required document to receive a tax discount and you’ll also need it if you want to sell your car.

When moving house in the UK, you are obliged to update your V5C vehicle registration certificate or the log book.

How to change the address on log book after a house move

Before, log book information could only be changed by using the standard post service or visiting the DVLA personally. However, today, you can change the address on your vehicle log book online in an instant.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Your vehicle’s registration number
  • The reference number of your log book
  • A UK address

The service is not available if:

  • The vehicle log book has already been sent to the DVLA
  • The vehicle is no longer under your ownership
  • You have lost your log book
  • Your automobile has been registered under the DVLA fleet scheme
  • You have moved to an address that is abroad

You may be wondering how much does it cost to change the address on your car’s log book. It is completely free to update the address on your vehicle log book. However, individuals who forget to change their address after moving home can be fined up to £1,000.

Of course, if you don’t want to use the online option, you can also apply by post to change your address on your V5C.

How long does it take to change the address on your car’s log book?

Before the online service for changing your address on your vehicle’s log book was made available to the public, individuals would have to wait around 6 weeks to receive their new log book. Thankfully, today the procedure has been dramatically improved and thanks to the DVLA’s online service, car owners can now receive their new V5C with an updated address in 5 working days.

Road tax change of address

Road tax, car tax, vehicle tax, and Vehicle Exercise Duty or VED are actually all the same thing. This type of tax is paid annually and it is an excise duty that must be paid for the majority of vehicles used on public roads in the UK. In order to continue making regular payments for your road tax, you must ensure that your address details are correct. Being caught driving a vehicle without road tax won’t result in penalty points on your licence but can lead to a fine of £1,000.

Do I need to change my address for vehicle tax?

Moving house doesn’t require you to change your car tax. However, you do need to notify the DVLA about the change of address to ensure that you can continue making regular payments on your tax. By changing the address on your vehicle log book, the DVLA will be able to make the necessary changes to your road tax address too.

If your car needs taxing in the next month after the change of address, you can tax your vehicle online prior to sending your log book to the DVLA or you can take your log book and visit a Post Office that will be able to help you with changing your address and taxing your vehicle. Don’t forget to take your MOT test certificate with you as it will be required for tax purposes.

Car insurance & moving house

Car insurance is another aspect of your car-related details and documents that you need to think about when moving. It’s essential to ensure that all information in your car insurance policy is up to date as failure to do so could mean a cancelled policy and a number of problems.

Let’s see how exactly your house move affects your car insurance.

Does moving affect car insurance?

Absolutely, car insurance and moving house are tightly related and the amount you are asked to pay for your vehicle insurance could change. At the time of the original calculation, when your insurance company did the math to establish how much you have to pay, they considered the previous address that you provided. Some of the factors that are examined are the crime rate of the area, where the vehicle will be parked, and others. Such details help establish how safe the automobile is likely to be and play a part in the final cost of your insurance.

Moving house leads to a completely different picture. New calculations will be required, which could lead to a refund or an additional payment of a supplement.

Does car insurance go up when you move?

Your car insurance could go up after you move house in the UK but it could also fall. For example, if your previous living address was based in a location where crime levels were zero to none and you had your own garage to park your car, chances are that your insurance expenses were significantly lower than that of other car owners. However, if your new postcode is based in an area where there is more crime and you will be parking your car on the street, it’s safe to say that it’s likely that you’ll pay more.

What is the car insurance change of address cost?

If you want to change your address on car insurance, there could be some costs involved. The cost of the change would entirely depend on your insurance provider. There are companies that could charge a change of address fee of around £25. However, in most cases, the service will be free when done online.

What happens if I don’t change my address on my car insurance?

It’s highly recommended that you notify your car insurance company about your house move as soon as possible. Not doing so could result in an invalid policy. In case of an accident and a claim, you may discover that you are not covered at all. A change of address also gives you the opportunity to consider whether or not you want to continue working with the same insurance company or you can find a better deal.

Conclusion

By being informed and ready to make the necessary notifications when moving house, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you’re abiding by all legal expectations and requirements as a car owner and driver. We hope that you’ll find the provided information helpful for your next house move. If you’re planning to move in the near future and you’re not sure about how to choose the best removal company, get in touch with us and we’ll be able to offer professional advice and support.