How to check your driving licence

Your driving licence holds essential information about your driving status and history. It’s not just an alternative to your passport as a means of official identification.

EASY AS HACK 

The easiest way to find your unique 16-digit driving licence number is to look at the front of your plastic photocard driving licence - you'll find the number on line 5.¹

The information on your driving licence includes what kinds of vehicles you’re allowed to drive and how many penalty points you might have. Here’s an in-depth beginner’s guide to checking your driving licence or finding your driving licence number.

WHAT IS YOUR DRIVING LICENCE NUMBER?

Your driving licence number is a unique 16-digit code on the front of your plastic photocard driving licence. It’s a combination of letters and numbers, as follows: 

• The first five characters are the first five letters of your surname 
• The first and last numbers are your birth year
• The second and third numbers are your birth month
• The fourth and fifth digits are your day of birth 
• Your driving licence number’s third section includes the first initial of your first name and middle name 
• The last three characters are random numbers for additional security 

HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR DRIVING LICENCE NUMBER?

You can find your driving licence number on the front of your driving licence, usually on line 5 (underneath your name, date of birth, country of issue and the licence issue and expiry dates).

HOW TO FIND YOUR DRIVING LICENCE NUMBER WITHOUT YOUR DRIVING LICENCE

If you can’t find your driving licence, you can get your driving licence number by going online or calling the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Online, you will need to visit gov.uk’s View your driving licence information page and supply the following details:

• National insurance number (which you can find on your national insurance card, your payslip, a P60, benefits information and your tax returns)
• Your name
• Postcode
• Gender
• Date of birth
   

You’ll need the same details when you call the DVLA contact centre on 0300 790 6801. You can call Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, and Saturday, 8am to 2pm.

However, it’s essential to remember that if you lose your photocard licence or it’s stolen, you must report this to the DVLA and apply for a replacement as soon as possible. 

HOW TO CHECK YOUR DRIVING LICENCE

You can check your driving licence for information the DVLA keeps about your licence status and driving record. Once again, you can do this online or by calling or writing a letter.

• Online – you will need to go to uk’s View or share your driving licence information page, but make sure you have your driving licence number, national insurance number, and postcode on your driver’s licence before you start the process.
  
  Alternatively, you can access the same information by setting up a driver and vehicle account. You’ll need your UK passport and driving licence number to do this.
• Call – the DVLA contact centre on 0300 790 6801
  
  
• Write to: ‘Subject access request enquiries’, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BX to request written details of your licence status and history.
  
  You can also download and fill in the ‘make a subject access request to DVLA’ form and then send it by email to requests@dvla.gov.uk.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR DRIVING LICENCE IF YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR DRIVING LICENCE NUMBER

Recover your driving licence number, as explained above. Once you have this information, you can check using the usual methods.

WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR DRIVING LICENCE?

You might need to check your driving licence for information about your licence status and driving record for several reasons. You might need to know:

• What categories of vehicle you’re allowed to drive (helpful if you’re applying for a job driving a van or minibus)
• How many penalty points you have on your licence
• When you can get behind the wheel again if you’ve been disqualified from driving.

The DVLA’s check service also allows you to share your driving record with someone else – for example, if you want to hire a car. To get a licence check code (valid for 21 days), you need to use the online DVLA service. You must also give them the last 8 characters of your driving licence number.

FAQs 

CAN YOU CHECK SOMEONE ELSE’S DRIVING LICENCE INFORMATION?

The answer is yes if you’re wondering if you can check someone else’s driving licence information. However, please be aware that obtaining someone else’s personal information without the owner’s permission is a criminal offence.

If you do have permission - you will need the last 8 characters of their driving licence number, and they will need to supply you with a licence check code (valid for 21 days).

WILL MY DRIVING LICENCE NUMBER CHANGE?

You might ask: will my driving licence number ever change? The answer is usually no; it is unique to you and will stay the same even if you lose and replace your licence or update it.

It will also remain the same when, as a learner driver, you swap your provisional licence for a full one after you pass your driving test.

The only times your driving licence number might change is when you alter your name after marriage, by deed poll or update the ‘gender marker’ on your driver number.

You must send the DVLA your old driving licence, the correct application form, and any supporting documents to change your name or gender. Find out more about this at gov.uk’s Change the name or gender on your driving licence page.

IS DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENCE A CRIMINAL OFFENCE?

Yes, driving without a valid driving licence is a criminal offence and, depending on the circumstances, you may be given:

• between three and six penalty points for when you do have a licence
• a maximum fine of £1,000
• a possible ban dependant on the circumstances and any points already endorsed.

HOW DO I PROTECT MY DRIVING LICENCE AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT?

If you’re wondering how to protect your driving licence against identity theft, there are several measures you should take, such as:

• store your driving licence in a safe place at home, rather than carrying it with you when driving, as you have seven days to produce it if stopped by police

• avoid sharing photos of your driving licence online
• Ignore any text or email requests for information about your driving licence, as these may be scams.
  
  

For more valuable tips and advice about your car, go to Solved.

Find out more about Ageas Car Insurance.

Sources

1 - Drivercheck.co.uk