Driving Licence Online Reviews 

As with most others I found this gov.uk and app system unworkable, un-intuitive and a shambolic waste of time. Let’s hope the post office are more helpful…

Disgraceful service, eight weeks for a driving licence to come back

Due to not receiving any communication from DVLA except acknowledging receipt of my notifying Glaucoma on 11th October 2025 until 30th June 2026 letter revoking my driving licence as not attended Eye Test. To date I have never received the code or whatever is required for SpecSavers test so I could not comply with their requirements. 8th July 2026 passed required test privately. Sent to DVLA. 16th July 2026 lodged 1st formal complaint. No reply. 2nd complaint 24th August to my Member of Parliament copy to Mr Tim Moss. Got a reply back from Complaints team when I was complaining about them. Mr Moss too busy to reply they said. My MP is now on the case. I live in the countryside with no viable public transport. This has seriously impacted on my life through no fault of my own. Given the number of complaints on this site DVLA Licence failures should be raised in the House of Commons.

I have helped two different people renew their driving licence after the age of seventy. Each of them have had to submit their return via the post. The Gov website and Gov UK One App do not interact without timing out when uploading photo id, as just one example. The screens are not user friendly, a highly complicated procedure for something so very basic and a system which should be built for users that do not have PhD's in computer science. I first helped someone around 12 months ago and procedure was bad, 12 months on and the system is no better, probably worse. How can it take so long to fix bugs and implement a decent working system. Words fail, I'm appalled, frustrated and very angry. Makes us all feel incompetent when it is down to the awful system. Spent too much time on trying to get this to function.

Terrible service tried to renew driving license online only to find the service wouldn’t recognise my postcode disgusted with these online applications not working properly not good enough

Total waste of time, took lots of my personal information god only knows where that is now. Go to the post office and pay the extra it's easier and safer. Don't bother phoning,your licence will expire before they answer.

Unusable service will not be trying again as nothing works 0 stars in reality total waste of time the government systems are sheer bad

what a pathetic time wasting exercise. The instructions are misleading, what is a photo page when a passport has two pages with the photo on it, one screen states close the passport and place camera on the front cover and another says use the photo page, utter (can I swear).

Spent several hours trying to renew. I even rang gov gateway who couldn't help me. Trip to the post office and an extra £7 got it done. The post office is went to said its common for the app not to work. I think they are just making everyone pay the extra fee. Typical government department....collecting a wage and not doing the job 🙄

Renewed twice online before no problems. This time they have changed the online sysyem - much more complicated but managed OK up to "confirm all details" system froze completely. Second attempt they asked for a selfie which I did but the system wouldn't accept it, Gave up and posted the form.

Renewal at age 73: Achieved 3 years ago without a hitch, but now as others have commented, a complete washout fiasco. Tried to use the appallingly awful One Login app. Wouldn't work on my Samsung Android phone - came back as incompatible. Installed on my Android tablet but failed to work, just a message to say "Sorry, something wrong". Tried to establish my identity first using my valid passport details, then using my driver's license. Neither worked Applying by post instead.

Never in all my life they have made it so complicated it doesn’t accept photo of driving licence then tells you unacceptable then went on to web chat just about to get help and a satisfaction survey popped up and cut me off really no eonder this country gone to the dogs they say please don’t be abusive but my god it’s really hard to be polite 🤬

I went around in circles tried the app using my passport, In the end after much frustration I used my expiring driving licence to get a new licence, The whole process is so time consuming and repetitive, My best advice is to ignore the passport procedure and try the driving licence photo Id process. I am still trying to get some help with HM Revenue and Customs with a self assessment on a trust which I no longer have, The Gov web site is a disaster.

Desperately complicated, little works, multiple attempts QR codes arrive invalid, no payment confirmation. Absolutely atrocious service

Absolutely hopeless - over complicated and unhelpful. I COULD NOT get the system to accept my details or ID despite MANY tries and checking that all the details I have entered were correct.
Can they get nothing right ???
Post Office then....at greater cost.

Hopeless service. Scanning chip didn't work after uploading passport. Gave correct verification details and told they are incorrect. What a waste of time.

HAD A LICENCE FOR 20 YEARS, TRIED TO RENEW ONLINE WOULDN'T ACCEPT MY ID! WENT TO WYLDE GREEN PO DONR DO IT,WENT TO ERDINGTON PO DONT DO IT, WENT TO SUTTON COLDFIELD PO AFTER ALOT OF FAFFING WITH THE IPAD ITS DONE,ABSOLUTELY ABYSMAL SERVICE ALL ROUND. AND HAVING TO PAY EXTRA FOR PHOTO DISGRACE.

My apprentice waited nearly a year to get his licence back and lost his job because of it.
He took his own life.
My daughter now has applied for her driving license for over 4m, get forms at stages, no updates, just shocking.
She had epilepsy 7yrs ago, because of this has stalled her application.
Again no feedback, have to chase licence, absolutely shocking service.

An hour of my life I will never see again, and it didnt work. Crap system as usual

£88 for something that is free I thought I was dealing with DVLA daylight robbery it would take you 2 minutes to transfer my information