Renewing Your Vehicle Licence (ALV), Explained
ALV stands for “Application for Licence” — the annual renewal of your vehicle’s licence disc. Every vehicle has its own renewal date, not one fixed date shared by everyone, and by law you have to renew before that date passes.
The grace period, and what happens if you’re late
You get 21 days after your disc expires before penalties start. After that, Regulation 57 sets the penalty at 10% of your licence fee for every month, or part of a month, that you’re late — capped at 100% of the fee, so at worst you’ll pay double, never more. A vehicle left unlicensed for 4 years can be deregistered entirely under Regulation 26A, though any penalties already owed still have to be paid.
Regulation 36 requires a valid licence disc to be displayed at all times, so driving on an expired one is against the law regardless of the grace period — the grace period only affects the renewal penalty, not whether you’re allowed to drive on an expired disc in the meantime.
Common reasons renewal gets held up at the counter
Outstanding traffic fines
Many licensing departments check for these before processing a renewal — worth clearing them first if you can, to avoid a wasted trip.
ID or address details that no longer match what's on record
You may need to submit an NCP (change of particulars) first — see our NCP guide.
No current licence disc or renewal notice on hand
Not always fatal — the office can usually look your vehicle up — but bringing what you have speeds things up.
Renew your licence correctly
RoadForms fills in your ALV form on the real government template, ready to sign.
From R49
Common questions
How long is the grace period after my licence expires?
21 days before penalties apply.
How much extra do I pay if I renew late?
10% of the licence fee for every month or part-month you're late, capped at 100% of the fee (Regulation 57).
Can my vehicle be deregistered for not renewing?
Yes, after 4 years unlicensed under Regulation 26A — though any penalties already owed remain payable.