TV Licensing

Direct Debit

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.

Already have a Direct Debit set up? Sign in to see your licence and payment plan details, or make up a missed payment.

More about Direct Debit

Direct Debit payment options

Pay monthly

Colour licences

You’ll usually pay for your first licence over six months, at around £25.10 a month. If we have to spread the cost across less than six months, each payment may be slightly higher. After this, you pay for your next licence in 12 monthly instalments of around £12.56 – six payments before your licence is due to be renewed, and six after.

Pay quarterly

Colour licences

You’ll pay instalments of around £38.89 every three months.

Unlike other payment methods, with quarterly payments you don’t pay for any of your licence upfront. As a result, each quarterly payment includes a £1.25 premium.

Pay yearly

Colour and black and white licences

You’ll make a single payment of £150.50 every 12 months for a colour licence, or £50.50 for a black and white licence.

Set up a Direct Debit

How to set up a Direct Debit

For yourself

You’ll need your bank or building society account details. You can make your first payment using a debit or credit card, or we can add it to your Direct Debit payments.

If you 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.

For someone else

You can also pay for someone else’s TV Licence. You’ll need your own bank or building society account details, and the name and address of the person you’re paying for. Please also have a debit or credit card handy for the first payment. You can make the first payment using a debit or credit card, or we can add it to your Direct Debit payments.

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. Simply select Direct Debit as your payment method once you’ve filled in your licence details. 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

Changing your Direct Debit

If you already have a Direct Debit set up, you can amend the details at any time.

How to change the account details or payment date

Please update your details online – it’s the quickest way to change the bank account or the date your TV Licence payment comes out of your account.

How to change the payment frequency

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?

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 instruction Welsh (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.