Driving licence application DL2 - guidance notes

When to use the DL2 application form

If you hold a valid full driving licence and want to add provisional entitlement to drive large vehicles, minibuses or buses, you must fill in the DL2 application form and the DLM1 medical report form. 

The DL2 application form is available from main Post Office branches. 

For more information visit:

• Apply for a provisional driving licence

General information for DL2 application form

These notes contain important information about applications for Northern Ireland driving licences.

You should only use form DL2 for making applications for goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles (PCV) driver’s licences, it cannot be used to apply for licences to drive motor cars, motorcycles or tractors, or to apply for a Taxi Driver’s Licence.

You should read the notes carefully before filling in the application form. The notes are meant to be a comprehensive guide, but they do not set out all of the licensing laws that apply.

Licence costs and how you pay

For information on licence fees and how to make a payment, including posting your application visit:

• Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes

Applications for PCV driver licences – evidence of conduct

All applications for PCV entitlement (categories D1, D1E, D and DE) must be sent with a Basic Disclosure Certificate, which you can get from AccessNI.

This certificate will show details of all convictions considered to be unspent, or say that no such convictions were found. 

While a conviction will not necessarily prevent you from being issued with a licence, some serious convictions may lead to a refusal. 

Where a licence is refused, you may make an appeal. 

To get a Basic Disclosure Certificate, you should contact AccessNI. 

For contact details for AccessNI go to: 

• AccessNI contact details

You can get more information at: 

• AccessNI criminal record checks  

Only Basic Disclosure Certificates which have been issued within the period of three months, ending with the date of the application for the driving licence, will be acceptable. 

Filling in the DL2 application form

Notes one to four  

For guidance notes to fill out section 1a, 1b and 1c go to:

• Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes

Note four, section 1c

Confirm your identity 

Read these note carefully.

Important information - If this is your first application or if your last licence was issued before 1 April 1999, you need to give proof of your identity. There can be no exceptions.  

Once you have given proof of identity, you will not normally need to give it to DVA again in the future, but you will need to give documentary evidence of your identity if:

• you change your name (for example, through marriage/ civil partnership)

• your appearance has changed significantly

You can find more information about identity documents and photographs at:

• Providing proof of identity for a driving licence

Photographs that do not meet the published criteria, or are of poor quality, will be rejected.

what you must do

If this is your first application, or you have not been issued with a Northern Ireland licence since 1 April 1999, your application must be sent with:

• a colour, passport size photograph 

If you have been issued with a new style photocard licence at any time after 1 April 1999, your application must be sent with:

• a colour, passport size photograph - if you are applying for a duplicate licence or change of name/ address without renewal, a photograph is not normally needed

Note five – section 1d

Change of name

If your name has changed since your last licence, you must give documentary evidence of the change of name; for example, passport in the name by which you are now known or birth and marriage/ civil partnership certificate.

The evidence you give must show a clear link between the name on your identity document and your current name. Photocopies of the documentary evidence are unacceptable.

You must surrender both parts of your licence which must be sent with the application and apply for a new licence straight away if you change you name.

It is an offence not to do so.

If you have lost either part, you will need to apply for a duplicate/ replacement licence and forward the right fee.

Note six - section 1e

Change of address

If you change address within Northern Ireland, you must surrender your licence and apply for a new licence straight away using this form. It is an offence not to do so. Your address must be in Northern Ireland.

Note seven – section 2

Your driving licence

This section allows you to tell DVA which type of licence you want.

You must have a full car licence before learning to drive any category of goods vehicle or passenger-carrying vehicle. You must pass a driving test in a rigid vehicle before being given provisional entitlement to drive a vehicle with a heavy trailer.

Note eight – section 2a

Add provisional entitlement

If this is your first application for a provisional category C1, C, D1 or D you must not drive that category of vehicle until you receive the licence showing the right entitlement. 

To add provisional entitlement:

• provisional C1 entitlement allows you to learn to drive medium sized goods vehicles (Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) between 3,500kg and 7,500kg), with a trailer up to 750kg
• provisional C entitlement allows you to learn to drive large goods vehicles with a MAM over 3,500kg, with a trailer up to 750kg
• provisional D1 entitlement allows you to learn to drive minibuses up to 16 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg
• provisional D entitlement allows you to learn to drive buses with more than eight passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg

Once you have passed a test in any of the above categories, you will automatically be given provisional entitlement to drive vehicles in those categories with a large trailer.

Note nine, section 2b

Upgrading your licence

If you wish to add another category to your licence after passing a driving test, you must surrender your existing licence and test pass certificate. If your existing licence was issued on or after 1 April 1999 you do not need to fill in application form DL2 unless you have changed your name.

Note 10, section 2c

Renewing your existing licence

When your existing driving licence is due to expire, DVA will send you a reminder notice with information on how to renew your licence online. 

You may wish to use form DL2 to renew your licence if you have not received a reminder, or if you do not want to wait for a reminder to be issued to you.

You must surrender both parts of any licence issued to you within the last ten years. If you are unable to do so a higher fee may be payable. (See note 11 about surrender of a licence at:)

• Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes

The provision of an expiry renewal reminder is a complimentary service. It is the licence holders’ responsibility to make sure that their licence is up-to-date and that a renewal application is made in time.

Expiry renewal

DVA can only accept expiry renewal applications if they are received no more than three months before the existing licence is due to expire.

Over 70 renewal/ medical renewal

If you passed your test before 1 January 1997, you may have been given extra entitlement to drive medium-sized goods vehicles and minibuses (under certain restrictions). These are C1 and C1E (8.25 tonnes), D1 (not for hire or reward) and D1E (not for hire or reward).

If you are:

• renewing your ordinary driving licence at age 70 or over
• renewing a medically restricted licence

and you wish to keep your entitlement to drive medium-sized goods vehicles and/ or minibuses, you must be able to meet the higher health standards that apply to drivers of goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles, with the exception of the eyesight standards which is the same as for car drivers.

You need to send a filled in Medical Examination Report (form DLM1) if you wish to keep either of these entitlements. 

Note 11, section 2d

Change of name

You should only fill in section one D of form DL2 if your name, as shown on your licence, is not right or has changed since your last licence was issued. You must give suitable evidence supporting a change of name. See note 5 above. 

Change of address 

You should only fill in section one E of form DL2 if the address shown on your licence is not right or has changed since your last licence was issued.  

Remove expired endorsements

Endorsements will normally stay on a licence for four years from the offence date. If you were disqualified until passing a further driving test, the four year period begins from the date of conviction. If you were disqualified for certain alcohol-related offences, endorsements will stay on your licence for eleven years from the date of conviction.

You must surrender both parts of your existing licence and include the following:

• the right fee
• a new colour photograph
• a filled in medical form DLM1 (see Note 15, Medical standards - general information below) 
• where necessary, a recent Basic Disclosure Certificate - For more information see Note 17, section 4 - Convictions below and the section above called Applications for PCV driver licences – evidence of conduct

Surrender of Licences

You must surrender your old licence and counterpart if it is still in your possession. You must complete the declaration in this section indicating the reason why you need to replace your licence. Once a licence has been formally reported as lost, stolen or destroyed it will be cancelled by DVA.

Information relating to lost and stolen driving licences may be shared with the police and other proper authorities within the European Union. You cannot legally use a driving licence once it has been reported as lost or stolen and cancelled by DVA.

Use of a cancelled driving licence may result in the holder being detained by the Police or other law enforcement bodies.

If you are aged 70 or over, or are subject to medical restriction, you will have to pay for a duplicate licence, even if your renewal licence is issued free of charge

Optional renewal

An optional renewal will allow you to replace an existing valid licence with a new licence issued for the legal maximum period. 

You must surrender your existing licence and pay the right fee. 

An optional renewal licence will take effect from the date your application is processed and your last licence (which you must surrender) will be stopped. Any expired endorsements will be removed. 

You cannot apply for an optional renewal if you hold a medically restricted licence.

Note 12, section 2e

Other Driving Licences

If you are applying for a Northern Ireland driving licence, and you hold a licence issued outside Northern Ireland, you must tell us. In certain cases, you will be able to exchange your current licence for a Northern Ireland licence. Depending on the type of licence you hold, you may not be able to exchange all entitlements

GB Licences

You can exchange a full current or expired GB licence for a full NI licence or obtain a full NI licence by producing a GB provisional licence, test pass certificate and an authenticated photograph. If you cannot produce your GB licence or if it has expired, you must provide a Certificate of Entitlement available from DVLA, Swansea.

EEA Licences

You can apply to exchange your EEA licence for a NI licence at any time even if it has expired. However, if your EEA licence has expired, you must also enclose a Certificate of Entitlement from the authority which issued your licence. You cannot obtain a full NI licence if you do not meet the relevant residency requirements.

You may be asked to provide proof of residency. (See section 5 of the Driving Licence Application Form DL2 and Note 18 below).

See “Exchanging your foreign driving licence” below for a full list of EEA member states

•  Exchanging your foreign driving licence

If your EEA licence was issued in exchange for one issued in another country (see Non-Exchangeable Licences below), it may be valid here for only 12 months and you may not be able to exchange it for the NI equivalent.

You cannot hold an EEA Member State licence and a NI Licence at the same time.

Exchangeable licences

If you hold a full licence issued outside the EEA, you can use it here for one year if it stays valid, and you may be able to exchange it for a full Northern Ireland licence.

However, DVA cannot exchange any goods vehicle or passenger-carrying vehicle entitlement. These licences can only be exchanged within the first five years after you become resident in Northern Ireland.

You can see a full list of the licences which can be exchanged at:

•  Exchanging your foreign driving licence

Or you can call the DVA driver licensing telephone line:

• DVA - driver licensing contact details

Applications for licence exchange should be made using the DVA form DL1.

Non-exchangeable licences

You cannot exchange a licence from any other country but you can drive using your full foreign car licence for up to one year after you become resident in Northern Ireland. If you wish to take a driving test, you will need to apply for a NI provisional licence and make application for the relevant driving tests

Note 13, section 2f

New licence after disqualification or revocation

It should be noted that higher fees apply for all drivers who are applying for a new licence after disqualification ordered by a Court in Northern Ireland, or where a licence has been revoked under the New Drivers (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.

If you have been disqualified until passing a further driving test, you may apply for a provisional driving licence, but only after the period of disqualification has expired.

It is an offence to apply for, or obtain, a driving licence during a period of disqualification.

Note 14, section 2g

Surrendering vocational entitlement

If you no longer wish to keep your entitlement to drive either goods vehicles or passenger-carrying vehicles, you need to fill in section 2g on the DL2 application form.

Note 15

Medical standards - general information

Everyone who applies for a Northern Ireland driving licence needs to meet the medical standards for fitness to drive and make a declaration about their health. You can find information on the relevant medical standards for fitness to drive at:

• Assessing fitness to drive: a guide for medical professionals

It is an offence to:

• not tell the DVA of any condition that may impact your ability to drive safely
• drive when your eyesight is not up to the required standard
• drive after making a false declaration about a medical condition

For more details see Note 21 of this guidance.

There are stricter medical standards for drivers of goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles.

If this is your first application for a goods vehicle or a passenger-carrying vehicle drivers’ licence you must get your own doctor to fill in the medical form DLM1 which is available at the following link and DVA (licensing), headquarters, County Hall, Coleraine.

• Group 2 (lorry or bus) licence (DLM1) medical report

Your doctor may charge a fee for this service and you are responsible for paying the fee directly to your doctor. As medical examinations fees can vary from doctor to doctor you should check the fee with your doctor before asking for an examination. 

You need to make sure all questions are filled in. You will also need a DLM1 form each time you renew your entitlement from age 45, including Optional Renewal. DVA can only accept a medical form DLM1 if it was filled in no more than four months before the application. 

Note 16, section 3

Your eyesight and hearing

It is an offence to drive when your eyesight is not up to the legal standard. If you need glasses or contact lenses to reach the eyesight standard you must declare this on the application form and make sure you wear them each time you drive. 

If you’re deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus it is not usually a bar to driving large vehicles. However, you must be able to talk with and hear others clearly, either with a communication device, or by other means.

Note 17, section 4

Convictions

You should give details of ALL unspent disqualifications and convictions for motoring offences including those without disqualification.

You can find the meaning of unspent convictions at:

• Endorsements and penalty points

If you are applying for a licence after any disqualification a higher fee may apply.

You should record all conviction details. If necessary, use a separate sheet and attach it to the application form.

If you are applying for a passenger-carrying vehicles drivers’ licence you must also declare any non-motoring convictions and need to send a Basic Disclosure Certificate, issued by AccessNI, dated no more than three months before the application for the licence.

See the section ‘Applications for PCV driver licences – evidence of conduct’ above.

High Risk Offenders and disqualified drivers

The High Risk Offender scheme was introduced in Northern Ireland on 3 May 2005. A driver who falls into any of the following criteria when making application for a driving licence after disqualification may be considered a High Risk Offender:

• disqualified twice within a 10 year period for any drink/drive offence

• disqualified for having an excessive proportion of alcohol in their body

 • disqualified for failing without a reasonable cause to provide a specimen for analysis

All applicants who are regarded as High Risk Offenders will need to pay a higher fee for the issue of their licence AND will be required to undergo a medical assessment before the issue of their licence. 

For details of driving licence fees, including the cost for the HRO medical see:

• The cost of a driving licence

Note 18, section 5

Confirmation of Residency

To be issued with a Northern Ireland driving licence, you must be lawfully resident in the United Kingdom. If you require leave to enter or remain in the UK, you must provide proof of your current leave e.g. Visa or Residency Permit.

If you are normally resident outside the United Kingdom and are currently attending a course of study in NI, you must give evidence of the course.

Note 19, section 6

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

If you wish to exchange an EEA driving licence, which shows information code 095 or if you have been issued with a separate Driver Qualification Card (DQC), you must also fill in form DQC1NI. You can get a copy at the link below or you can call the DVA driver licensing telephone line to ask for one:

• Application form for a Driver Qualification Card DQC1(NI)
• DVA - driver licensing contact details

Note 20, section 7

Organ donation

The law around organ donation is an opt-out system. You can find out more about what this means or how to opt out at the following link: Organ and tissue donation

You can continue to register as an organ and tissue donor to help someone else after death. If you choose to do so, you need to fill in the voluntary organ donor consent section on the application form.

By recording a decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register, you are giving your agreement for your organs and/ or tissue to be used for transplantation to save or improve the lives of others after death.

Note 21, section 8

Declaration

The declaration must be signed and dated by you. Your signature will be reproduced on your new photocard driving licence. Sign the application form DL2 in black ink and make sure no part of your signature goes outside the box or the application will be rejected and returned to you.

It is an offence to make a false declaration to the DVA.

Details about False declarations and telling DVA about medical conditions are shown in section below.

False declarations and telling DVA about medical conditions

Details on offences about false declarations and telling DVA about medical conditions are detailed in the table below. 

In all the offences in the table above, endorsement of the licence will be made. And disqualification may be imposed by the Court, except for the last offence listed in the table.

For the offence of making certain false statements, giving certain false details or withholding certain relevant information and so on, endorsement of the licence will be made and disqualification from driving will be imposed.

•  How to tell DVA about a medical condition 

Note 22, section 9

Certifying the photograph

If you are applying for a duplicate licence or change of name or address without renewing your licence, a photograph is not normally needed.

First provisional licence  

A photograph and proof of identity must be given for a first provisional driving licence.

If you are sending a UK or EEA passport to confirm your identity then the photograph does not need to be certified. If you are not sending a UK or EEA passport then you will need to get your photograph certified.

See note below on who can certify your photograph.

For all other types of renewal application
 

A photograph is needed and the 'who can certify your photograph' section below, explains when you will need to get your photograph certified.

Who can certify your photograph

Your appearance hasn’t changed since your last licence

If your appearance hasn’t changed since your last licence was issued, you need a passport type colour photograph. The photograph does not need to be certified.

Your appearance has changed significantly since your last licence

If your appearance has changed significantly since your last licence was issued, you need a passport type certified colour photograph. The photograph does need to be certified.

Getting your photograph certified

If you need to get your photograph certified, your photograph must be signed and dated on the back by either an elected official (for example MLA, MP, MEP or local councillor), a justice of the peace, minister of religion, a professionally qualified person (for example engineer, lawyer or teacher) a bank official, established civil servant or someone of similar standing.

This person must have known you personally for at least two years and hold a NI driving licence which was issued after 1 April 1999. They must not be related to you in any way. They must also fill in section 9 of the application form in full.

Police officers certifying photographs do not need to give a NI driving licence number or home address, but should give their police station address.

All applicants

If you are unable to have your photograph certified by someone who has known you for two years you should contact the driver licensing customer enquiry unit for advice.

• DVA - driver licensing contact details

You can find more information on applying for your licence, including when to expect your licence and what to do if you do not receive your licence at:

• Apply for a provisional driving licence

Rules on driving while waiting for your licence

For rules on driving when you are applying for your provisional licence or other licences go to:

• Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes

Address shown on your licence

For details on the address that will be shown on your licence go to:

• Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes