TV Licensing

Direct Debit

View in Welsh

Direct Debit is our most popular payment option. For millions of customers, it’s the most convenient way to pay, as your licence is automatically renewed each year.

Set up your Direct Debit

Choose how often you would like to pay. Make sure you have your bank account details ready and follow a few simple steps.

Pay monthly - from £14.12

We'll usually spread the cost of your first Direct Debit licence over six months, at around £28.25 a month. From then on you’ll pay around £14.12 a month.

Pay quarterly - from £43.62

We'll take four payments throughout the year. Each payment will include a £1.25 charge.

Pay yearly - £169.50

You’ll pay the full licence fee automatically every 12 months.

We will let you know your exact payment dates and amounts once you have started setting up your Direct Debit.

You can also choose to make your first payment using a debit or credit card, and then pay the rest by Direct Debit.

More about Direct Debit

For someone else

You can also pay for someone else’s TV Licence. You’ll need your own bank account details, and the name and address of the person you’re paying for.

Set up a Direct Debit

For a business

You’ll need your business bank account details, as well as the address that you need the licence to cover. If your business account has a sole signatory, you can set up a Direct Debit online. If the account has more than one signatory, you’ll need to apply by post. Download a PDF form at the bottom of this page.

Set up a Direct Debit

Updating details for your Direct Debit

If you already have a Direct Debit set up, you can update your details at any time. This includes changing your bank account or the date your payments come out of your account.

Change your payment to annual, monthly or quarterly

To switch to making annual, monthly or quarterly payments, please contact us.

To make any changes to your Direct Debit, you’ll need your TV Licence number, last name, postcode, and the bank details we hold for you (sort code and account number).

Don’t know your licence number?

Switching an existing licence to a Direct Debit

If you currently pay for your licence with a TV Licensing payment or savings card and want to switch to Direct Debit, find out how to change your payment method.

You’ll need your current TV Licence number to hand.

Application forms and the Direct Debit Guarantee

Direct Debit forms

If you need to post us your Direct Debit instruction instead of applying online, please print and complete the form below and post it to:

TV Licensing
Darlington
DL98 1TL

Direct Debit instruction (PDF 41 Kb opens in a new window)

Direct Debit Guarantee

If you pay by Direct Debit, your payments are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

• This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits.
• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, TV Licensing will notify you ten working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request TV Licensing to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.
• If TV Licensing or your bank or building society makes an error in the payment of your Direct Debit, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society.
• If you receive a refund that you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when TV Licensing asks you to.
• You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

When I try to pay by Direct Debit on your website, why am I not able to select 'monthly'?

We may only be able to offer you certain payment schemes depending on how up to date you are with your payments.

If you are not given the option to pay monthly when you renew your TV Licence, you will be prompted to pay by annual or quarterly Direct Debit instead. Once you have paid for a TV Licence by annual or quarterly Direct Debit, you will then be able to pay by monthly Direct Debit for your next TV Licence.