# Passport, driving licence and MOT fees

url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/passport-driving-licence-and-mot-fees/
updated: 29 September 2026
licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources.
publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk)

# Passport, driving licence and MOT fees



Last updated 29 September 2026.
Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/).





An adult passport applied for online is **£102** since 8 April 2026, up from £94.50 a year ago. Passport fees are capped by law at the cost of the passport service, and still recover only part of it. A provisional driving licence has cost £34 online since 2014. The MOT maximum has been £54.85 since 2010.



Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees).





## Key figures



- £102An adult passport applied for online

▲
As of 8 April 2026
- £115.50An adult passport by post

▲
As of 8 April 2026
- £34A first provisional driving licence, online

▬
As of 31 October 2014
- £54.85The most a garage can charge for a car MOT

▬
As of 6 April 2010
- 77%Share of the passport service’s cost covered by fees

72% in 2024–25
2025–26




Sources: [HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees), [DVLA (Department for Transport)](https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees), [The MOT test centre (private garage); DVSA sets and enforces the maximum](https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees).





## What is the short version?



- **Paper costs more.** Applying by post costs £115.50, £13.50 more than online for the same passport.
- **Every passport is subsidised.** Passport fees brought in £684m in 2025–26 against £886m of cost; general taxation made up the £202m gap.
- **DVLA fees fell short of its costs.** Its fee income was £351m against £374m of cost in 2025–26. Vehicle excise duty and personalised registrations go to the Treasury instead.
- **The MOT fee is a ceiling, not a price.** Garages keep what they charge and may charge less than the maximum.






## How much are the fees now?



£102
Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK online application
▲



In force since 8 April 2026. Source:
[HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.



£115.50
Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application
▲



In force since 8 April 2026. Source:
[HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.



£66.50
Child (under 16) passport, UK online application
▲



In force since 8 April 2026. Source:
[HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.



£80
Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application
▲



In force since 8 April 2026. Source:
[HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.








| Fee | Now | A year ago | Year on year | Since | Meant to cover |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK online application](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees)Details | £102 | £94.50 | +£8 (+7.9%) | 8 April 2026 | Below cost |
| A year ago£94.50Year on year+£8 (+7.9%)Since8 April 2026Meant to coverBelow cost | | | | | |
| [Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications)Details | £115.50 | £107 | +£8.50 (+7.9%) | 8 April 2026 | Below cost |
| A year ago£107Year on year+£8.50 (+7.9%)Since8 April 2026Meant to coverBelow cost | | | | | |
| [Child (under 16) passport, UK online application](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees)Details | £66.50 | £61.50 | +£5.00 (+8.1%) | 8 April 2026 | Below cost |
| A year ago£61.50Year on year+£5.00 (+8.1%)Since8 April 2026Meant to coverBelow cost | | | | | |
| [Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications)Details | £80 | £74 | +£6 (+8.1%) | 8 April 2026 | Below cost |
| A year ago£74Year on year+£6 (+8.1%)Since8 April 2026Meant to coverBelow cost | | | | | |
| [First provisional driving licence (car, motorcycle, moped) - online](https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees)Details | £34 | £34 | no change | 31 October 2014 | Set to recover cost |
| A year ago£34Year on yearno changeSince31 October 2014Meant to coverSet to recover cost | | | | | |
| [First provisional driving licence - by post](https://www.gov.uk/apply-first-provisional-driving-licence)Details | £43 | £43 | no change | 31 October 2014 | Set to recover cost |
| A year ago£43Year on yearno changeSince31 October 2014Meant to coverSet to recover cost | | | | | |
| [Photocard driving licence 10-year renewal - online](https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees)Details | £14 | £14 | no change | 31 October 2014 | Set to recover cost |
| A year ago£14Year on yearno changeSince31 October 2014Meant to coverSet to recover cost | | | | | |
| [Driving licence renewal at 70 or over](https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees)Details | £0 | — | — | 22 September 2026 | Below cost |
| A year ago—Year on year—Since22 September 2026Meant to coverBelow cost | | | | | |
| [Replacement vehicle log book (V5C)](https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book)Details | £25 | — | — | 22 September 2026 | Set to recover cost |
| A year ago—Year on year—Since22 September 2026Meant to coverSet to recover cost | | | | | |
| [Personalised registration - assignment / transfer fee](https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/print)Details | £80 | — | — | 22 September 2026 | Set above cost, by policy |
| A year ago—Year on year—Since22 September 2026Meant to coverSet above cost, by policy | | | | | |
| [MOT test maximum fee - car (Class 4, up to 8 passenger seats)](https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees)Details | £54.85 | £54.85 | no change | 6 April 2010 | Not published |
| A year ago£54.85Year on yearno changeSince6 April 2010Meant to coverNot published | | | | | |
| [MOT test maximum fee - motorcycle (no sidecar)](https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees)Details | £29.65 | £29.65 | no change | 6 April 2010 | Not published |
| A year ago£29.65Year on yearno changeSince6 April 2010Meant to coverNot published | | | | | |






Checked 22 September 2026. Source:
[HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.





## How have the fees moved?




**Passport, driving licence and MOT fees: fee history**










**The numbers behind this chart**





| From | Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK online application | Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application | Child (under 16) passport, UK online application | Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2018-03-27Details | £75.5 | £85 | £49 | £58.5 |
| Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application£85Child (under 16) passport, UK online application£49Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application£58.5 | | | | |
| 2023-02-02Details | £82.5 | £93 | £53.5 | £64 |
| Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application£93Child (under 16) passport, UK online application£53.5Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application£64 | | | | |
| 2024-04-11Details | £88.5 | £100 | £57.5 | £69 |
| Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application£100Child (under 16) passport, UK online application£57.5Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application£69 | | | | |
| 2025-04-10Details | £94.5 | £107 | £61.5 | £74 |
| Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application£107Child (under 16) passport, UK online application£61.5Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application£74 | | | | |
| 2026-04-08Details | £102 | £115.5 | £66.5 | £80 |
| Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application£115.5Child (under 16) passport, UK online application£66.5Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application£80 | | | | |
| 2026-09-29Details | £102 | £115.5 | £66.5 | £80 |
| Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application£115.5Child (under 16) passport, UK online application£66.5Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application£80 | | | | |






Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees), [HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications), [HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees), [HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications).






| Fee | Then | Now | Fee change | Prices change | Then, in today’s prices |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK online application (since 2018)Details | £75.50 | £102 | +35.1% | +36.4% | £103.01 |
| Now£102Fee change+35.1%Prices change+36.4%Then, in today’s prices£103.01 | | | | | |
| Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application (since 2018)Details | £85 | £115.50 | +35.9% | +36.4% | £115.98 |
| Now£115.50Fee change+35.9%Prices change+36.4%Then, in today’s prices£115.98 | | | | | |
| Child (under 16) passport, UK online application (since 2018)Details | £49 | £66.50 | +35.7% | +36.4% | £66.86 |
| Now£66.50Fee change+35.7%Prices change+36.4%Then, in today’s prices£66.86 | | | | | |
| Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application (since 2018)Details | £58.50 | £80 | +36.8% | +36.4% | £79.82 |
| Now£80Fee change+36.8%Prices change+36.4%Then, in today’s prices£79.82 | | | | | |





Prices from CPIH, as of 1 August 2026. Source:
[Office for National Statistics](https://www.ons.gov.uk/economics/inflationandpriceindices).





## What are the fees meant to cover?



Passport fees may be set at or below the cost of the passport service, which the law defines to include consular help abroad and processing British citizens at the border. The Home Office reports that passport income covered 77% of those costs in 2025-26.

DVLA fees are set to recover the cost of each service, with two exceptions where the money goes to the Treasury: vehicle excise duty and personalised registrations.

The MOT fee is a maximum set by DVSA. The test is done by private garages, which keep the fee and may charge less.




**How much of the cost do the fees recover?**



- 1. DVLA

94%
- 2. HM Passport Office

77%




Fees exactly cover cost: 100%



Latest year published, 2025–26. Above 100% is a surplus; below it, the gap is met from general taxation. The figures are in the table further down.




**Show as a table**





| Name | Fee income as a share of cost |
| --- | --- |
| 1. DVLA | 94% |
| 2. HM Passport Office | 77% |







- **Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK online application:** EM to SI 2026/311: passport fees 'can only be set at or below the cost of processing and delivering the services associated with making the application, which includes the cost of processing applications, consular support overseas (including for lost and stolen passports), and the cost of processing British Citizens at UK Borders. Currently, income from passports is below the cost of operating these services.' HMPO fees transparency data (30 June 2026): adult UK online fee £102 vs estimated unit cost £121.66. Home Office ARA 2025-26: passports fee recovery 77% (deficit £201.6m). The fee includes an element funding consular protection overseas (£109.1m of passport consular fees in 2025-26) an
- **Adult passport, standard 34-page, UK paper (postal) application:** Estimated unit cost for UK postal adult passport £153.98 vs fee £115.50 (HMPO fees transparency data, 30 June 2026). See passport-adult-online for the legal cost ceiling.
- **Child (under 16) passport, UK online application:** Estimated unit cost £88.22 vs fee £66.50 (HMPO fees transparency data, 30 June 2026).
- **Child (under 16) passport, UK paper (postal) application:** Estimated unit cost £120.54 vs fee £80 (HMPO fees transparency data, 30 June 2026).



**What each passport costs, online and by post**



- 1. Adult, by post

£115.50
- ◆2. Adult, online

£102.00
- 3. Child, by post

£80.00
- 4. Child, online

£66.50




◆ The headline fee



UK applications for a standard passport. The paper form costs more for the same document.




**Show as a table**





| Name | Fee |
| --- | --- |
| 1. Adult, by post | £115.50 |
| 2. Adult, online (The headline fee) | £102.00 |
| 3. Child, by post | £80.00 |
| 4. Child, online | £66.50 |






Figure as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications), [HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees), [HM Passport Office (Home Office)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications).



- **First provisional driving licence (car, motorcycle, moped) - online:** DVLA ARA 2025-26: 'Our financial objective is to recover the full cost of keeping the vehicle and driver registers over the medium-term and fees (where applicable) are set to cover these costs. This objective of cost recovery applies to all streams except cherished transfer transactions and personalised registrations'. Fees are pooled under the Department for Transport (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration Fees) Order 2003. 2025-26: fee deficit £23.4m, cost recovery 94%. EM to SI 2014/2580: 'As a result of the efficiency improvements already made, the DVLA's costs have reduced ... The DVLA needs to pass on reductions in costs to their customers by reducing fees.'





| Body | Year | Fee income | Cost | Surplus or deficit | Share of cost recovered |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [HM Passport Office](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5651002cbe5d1c179a64ba/36.54_HO_ARA_25-26_ELAY_2.pdf)Details | 2025–26 | £684m | £886m | £-202m | 77% |
| Year2025–26Cost£886mSurplus or deficit£-202mShare of cost recovered77% | | | | | |
| [HM Passport Office](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5651002cbe5d1c179a64ba/36.54_HO_ARA_25-26_ELAY_2.pdf)Details | 2024–25 | £668m | £924m | £-257m | 72% |
| Year2024–25Cost£924mSurplus or deficit£-257mShare of cost recovered72% | | | | | |
| [DVLA](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a54c7872467584757371df3/DVLA_annual_report_and_accounts_2025_to_2026.pdf)Details | 2025–26 | £351m | £374m | £-23.4m | 94% |
| Year2025–26Cost£374mSurplus or deficit£-23.4mShare of cost recovered94% | | | | | |
| [DVLA](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a54c7872467584757371df3/DVLA_annual_report_and_accounts_2025_to_2026.pdf)Details | 2024–25 | £342m | £351m | £-9.3m | 97% |
| Year2024–25Cost£351mSurplus or deficit£-9.3mShare of cost recovered97% | | | | | |





- [Passport (Fees) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/660), as amended by the Immigration, Nationality and Passports (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/311); fee-setting power in ss86-87 Immigration Act 2016](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/311/made)
- [Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999, Sch 3 Pt 1, as amended by the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/2580)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2580/made)
- [Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999, Sch 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/2864/schedule/3)
- Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 (fee provision not checked)
- Retention/Sale of Registration Marks Regulations (not checked)
- [Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981, reg 20, as amended by the Motor Vehicles (Tests) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/449)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/449/made)






## Who receives the money?






**Passport fees**



Paid to a named body HM Passport Office (Home Office). Fees may not exceed the cost of the passport service, which includes consular help abroad.



[Immigration Act 2016, ss86-87; Passport (Fees) Regulations 2022](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/311/made)






**Driving licence and vehicle registration fees**



Paid to a named body DVLA, to recover its costs. Personalised registration fees go to the Treasury.



[Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999, as amended; DVLA annual report](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2580/made)

The only exceptions to this relate to vehicle excise duty and personalised registrations, where the monies go to the Treasury.




**MOT test fee**



Private money, not public the garage that does the test. The law sets only the maximum.



[Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1981/1694)






Legal position as of 22 September 2026. Source:
[legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/). Checked by hand 22 September 2026.






## Are the fees fair?





### The case for the current fees



- Passport fees are below cost, so general taxation still subsidises every passport.
- Driving licence fees have not risen since 2014.
- The MOT cap has not risen since 2010, which has kept the test cheap for drivers.





### The case against



- Passport fees have risen every year since 2023, well above inflation over the period.
- Paper applicants pay more than online ones for the same passport.
- Garages say a frozen MOT cap means the test is cross-subsidised by repair work.









## Common questions


How much is a passport?
£102 for an adult applying online in the UK, £115.50 by post, from 8 April 2026.What is the maximum MOT fee?
£54.85 for a car, unchanged since April 2010.





## Sources for this page





| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [GOV.UK Passport fees; GOV.UK news 'New fees for passport applications'; EM to SI 2026/311](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees) | HM Passport Office (Home Office) | 22 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [GOV.UK news - New fees for passport applications](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fees-for-passport-applications) | HM Passport Office (Home Office) | 22 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [GOV.UK Driving licence fees](https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-fees) | DVLA (Department for Transport) | 22 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [GOV.UK Getting an MOT: fees](https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees) | The MOT test centre (private garage); DVSA sets and enforces the maximum | 22 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [GOV.UK Passport fees](https://www.gov.uk/passport-fees) | HM Passport Office (Home Office) | 22 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH)](https://www.ons.gov.uk/economics/inflationandpriceindices) | Office for National Statistics | 1 August 2026 | monthly | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [legislation.gov.uk and official guidance, provision by provision](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/) | legislation.gov.uk | 22 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |





Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations
are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Related pages

- [Next in this section: NHS prescription, dental and optical charges](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/nhs-prescription-dental-and-optical-charges/)
- [What is road tax and does it pay for roads?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/vehicle-excise-duty/)
- [How many speeding fines are issued, and where does the money go?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/speeding-fines/)
- [What are stealth taxes, and how much do they raise?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/stealth-taxes/)

## More from this publisher

- [UK tax calculators](https://howlongisit.co.uk)

Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.