If you are searching for “view driving licence”, you may want to check your UK driving record, confirm your driving entitlement, review penalty points or find out whether any disqualifications are recorded against your licence.
The ability to view driving licence information online makes it easier for motorists to manage their driving records without relying solely on their physical photocard. For eligible drivers in England, Scotland and Wales, the official DVLA online service provides access to important information about your driving licence.
In this comprehensive guide, we explain how to view driving licence online, what information you can see, what details you need, how DVLA check codes work and why checking your driving record can be useful.
Important: This article provides general information about UK driving licences. For an official driving record check, use the relevant GOV.UK DVLA service.
For more information about UK driving licences, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
What Does “View Driving Licence” Mean?
The phrase view driving licence usually refers to accessing information held on your official driving record online.
Your physical driving licence is only one part of your driving information. Your electronic driving record contains additional information about your driving entitlement and, where applicable, endorsements and disqualifications.
The official DVLA online service allows eligible drivers to view their driving record and share relevant information with another person or organisation.
You might want to view driving licence information if you are:
- Checking which vehicles you can drive
- Checking penalty points
- Checking disqualifications
- Preparing to hire a vehicle
- Applying for a driving-related job
- Checking your driving information
- Generating a DVLA check code
If you want to learn more about the UK licensing system, visit our UK driving licence guide.
How to View Driving Licence Online
If you want to view driving licence information online, you can use the official GOV.UK service.
To access your driving record, you will generally need:
- Your driving licence number
- Your National Insurance number
- The postcode shown on your driving licence
These details are used to verify your identity and access your driving information.
Step-by-Step Guide to View Your Driving Licence
Follow these general steps:
- Visit the official GOV.UK service for viewing your driving licence.
- Enter your driving licence number.
- Enter your National Insurance number.
- Enter the postcode recorded on your licence.
- Submit the information.
- Access your driving record.
- Review your driving entitlement and other available information.
- Generate a check code if you need to share your record.
The online service is designed to make it easier for drivers to access relevant driving information.
For related information, see our DVLA licence check guide.
What Information Can You See When You View Your Driving Licence?
When you view driving licence information online, you can access important details associated with your driving record.
1. Your Driving Entitlements
One of the most useful reasons to view your driving record is to confirm the categories of vehicles you are entitled to drive.
This can be particularly helpful if you:
- Recently passed a driving test
- Added another category to your licence
- Have held your licence for many years
- Are considering driving a different type of vehicle
- Are applying for a professional driving job
You should always confirm that you have the appropriate entitlement before driving a vehicle.
2. Penalty Points
Your driving record can also show relevant penalty points and endorsements.
If you have recently received a motoring penalty or been convicted of a driving offence, checking your record can help you understand what has been recorded.
The official DVLA service allows eligible drivers to check penalty points and disqualifications.
3. Driving Disqualifications
You can also check whether relevant driving disqualifications appear on your record.
A disqualification can affect your legal entitlement to drive, so it is important to understand your current driving status.
If you have previously been disqualified, do not assume that having a physical photocard automatically means you can drive. Your legal entitlement depends on your current driving status.
Why Should You View Your Driving Licence Online?
There are several reasons motorists search for view driving licence information.
Confirm Your Driving Entitlement
You may simply want to make sure you are legally entitled to drive a particular vehicle.
Check Penalty Points
Reviewing your driving record can help you keep track of endorsements and penalty points.
Check Disqualifications
If you have been involved in a motoring offence, your driving record can help you understand your current status.
Prepare for Car Hire
A car rental company may ask you for a DVLA check code before allowing you to collect a vehicle.
Prepare for Employment
Employers may need to verify your driving record if your job involves driving.
Check Your Information
Viewing your driving record can help you identify information that may need attention.
For additional UK licence information, explore our driving licence resources.
View Driving Licence for Car Hire
If you are planning to rent a car, you may be asked to view driving licence information and provide a DVLA check code.
Car hire companies may need to verify information such as:
- Your driving entitlement
- Penalty points
- Disqualifications
- Other relevant driving-record information
GOV.UK specifically lists car hire companies among organisations that may need to view a driver’s record.
What Should You Do Before Hiring a Car?
Before collecting your rental vehicle:
- View your driving record.
- Check that your information is correct.
- Generate a DVLA check code if requested.
- Give the code to the car hire company.
- Take any additional documents requested by the company.
It is sensible to generate your check code close to the date it will be used because it is temporary.
View Driving Licence for Employment
Many jobs require employees to drive as part of their duties.
If you are applying for a driving-related position, an employer may ask you to provide information from your driving record.
This can apply to:
- Delivery drivers
- Courier drivers
- Van drivers
- HGV drivers
- Bus drivers
- Coach drivers
- Taxi drivers
- Fleet drivers
- Company car drivers
An employer can ask you to generate a DVLA check code so that relevant information can be verified.
Employers may also use the appropriate DVLA process to request driver entitlement information.
What Is a DVLA Check Code?
A DVLA check code is a temporary code that allows a driver to share relevant driving-record information with another person or organisation.
You may need a check code when:
- Hiring a car
- Starting a driving job
- Providing information to an employer
- Allowing an organisation to verify your driving entitlement
The driver generates the code through the official DVLA service and provides it to the organisation requesting the information.
According to GOV.UK, a check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
For more information, read our DVLA licence check guide.
How to Generate a DVLA Check Code
If you need to share your driving information, you can generate a check code after accessing your driving record.
The general process is:
- Access your driving record.
- Select the option to share your driving licence information.
- Generate a check code.
- Give the code to the person or organisation that needs to check your record.
- Provide the required licence information.
The organisation can then use the appropriate DVLA service to check the relevant information.
How Long Does a DVLA Check Code Last?
A DVLA check code lasts for 21 days and can only be used once.
If the code has expired or has already been used, you will need to generate another one.
Can Someone Else View My Driving Licence?
Another person cannot simply access your private driving record without the required permission and information.
If an employer or car hire company needs to view driving licence information belonging to you, you will normally need to provide the relevant check code and licence information.
GOV.UK states that you need the driver’s permission to check their driving information.
This process provides a balance between convenient verification and protection of personal information.
View Driving Licence and Penalty Points
Penalty points are an important part of your driving record.
If you have recently received penalty points, it can be useful to view driving licence information online to understand what has been recorded.
You may want to check your record if you:
- Received a fixed penalty
- Were convicted of a motoring offence
- Are applying for a driving job
- Need to hire a car
- Want to confirm your current driving status
New Drivers and Penalty Points
New drivers should pay particular attention to penalty points.
Under the New Drivers Act, a licence can be revoked if a new driver receives six or more penalty points within two years of passing their first driving test.
Checking your record can therefore be especially important during the first two years after passing your driving test.
View Driving Licence Categories
A UK driving licence contains different categories that determine what types of vehicles you can drive.
If you are unsure about your entitlements, viewing your driving record can help clarify your current licence categories.
This is particularly useful if you are:
- Buying a new vehicle
- Hiring a van
- Starting a new job
- Driving a company vehicle
- Planning to take an additional driving test
Never assume that having a full car licence automatically gives you entitlement to drive every type of vehicle.
Understanding Driving Licence Codes
When you view driving licence information, you may encounter codes associated with your driving entitlement.
These codes can indicate conditions or restrictions.
For example, code 01 relates to eyesight correction. Other codes can relate to vehicle adaptations and other driving conditions.
If you see a code you do not understand, consult the official DVLA guidance rather than guessing its meaning.
Can I View My Driving Licence Without a DVLA Account?
Yes. You do not necessarily need to create a Driver and Vehicles account to view your driving information.
The dedicated GOV.UK service allows eligible drivers to view or share their driving licence information.
You will normally need:
- Driving licence number
- National Insurance number
- Licence postcode
A Driver and Vehicles account provides additional services, but it is not required for every driving licence check.
What Is a DVLA Driver and Vehicles Account?
The Driver and Vehicles account provides access to several online driving and vehicle services.
Depending on your circumstances, you can use it to:
- View your driving record
- Check penalty points
- Check disqualifications
- Renew your photocard licence
- Replace a lost or stolen licence
- Change your address
- Create a licence check code
- Manage certain vehicle information
GOV.UK states that the account is available to people with a driving licence issued in England, Scotland or Wales or a V5C vehicle log book in their name.
View Driving Licence After Changing Your Address
If you have moved house, it is important to keep your driving licence information up to date.
You can change the address on a GB photocard driving licence through the official online DVLA service. GOV.UK states that changing the address is free.
After updating your details, you can view driving licence information again to confirm that your record is accurate.
Keeping your address current also helps ensure that important correspondence reaches you.
View Driving Licence After Losing Your Licence
Losing your physical driving licence does not mean that your driving record disappears.
If your photocard has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you can apply for a replacement.
The current fee for replacing a GB driving licence is £20.
If you have lost your licence, read our lost or stolen driving licence guide for additional information.
What If My Driving Licence Information Is Incorrect?
After you view driving licence information online, you may discover that something does not appear to be correct.
Potential issues can include:
- Incorrect personal details
- Incorrect penalty points
- Incorrect vehicle entitlement
- An unexpected disqualification
- A licence restriction you do not recognise
If you believe information is incorrect, do not simply ignore it.
The appropriate process depends on the type of information involved. You may need to contact DVLA or, for certain endorsement matters, the relevant court or authority.
For general information about UK driving licences, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
View Driving Licence: Great Britain and Northern Ireland
It is important to distinguish between Great Britain and the United Kingdom.
The DVLA administers driving licences issued in:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
Northern Ireland has a separate driving licence system administered by the Driver & Vehicle Agency.
Therefore, if you search for view driving licence online, make sure you use the appropriate service for the jurisdiction where your licence was issued.
Is It Free to View a Driving Licence Online?
For eligible drivers, viewing or sharing your own driving licence information through the standard online DVLA service does not require a separate payment.
However, some other methods of requesting driving information may have fees.
For most drivers who simply want to view their own record or generate a check code, the online service is a convenient option.
Why You Should Regularly View Your Driving Licence
Many drivers only think about their licence when it is time to renew it. However, regularly reviewing your driving information can be useful.
When you view driving licence information, you can:
- Confirm your driving entitlement
- Check penalty points
- Review disqualifications
- Prepare for car hire
- Prepare for a driving job
- Check your licence categories
- Identify potential errors
- Understand restrictions on your licence
Keeping yourself informed can help prevent unexpected problems when you need to prove your driving status.
Frequently Asked Questions About View Driving Licence
How can I view my driving licence online?
You can use the official GOV.UK service to view or share your driving licence information. You will normally need your driving licence number, National Insurance number and the postcode recorded on your licence.
What can I see when I view my driving licence?
You can view relevant information about your driving record, including vehicle entitlements, penalty points and disqualifications where applicable.
Can I view my driving licence on my phone?
The DVLA’s online services can be accessed through a compatible internet-connected device. Make sure you use the official GOV.UK service and protect your personal information.
Can someone else view my driving licence?
Another person or organisation can check relevant information when you give them the required permission and information, such as a DVLA check code.
How long does a DVLA check code last?
A DVLA check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
Can I view my penalty points online?
Yes. Eligible drivers can use the official DVLA service to view penalty points and disqualifications recorded on their driving record.
Do I need a DVLA account to view my licence?
No. The dedicated DVLA service allows eligible drivers to view or share their driving information without necessarily creating a Driver and Vehicles account.
Can I view my driving licence after moving house?
Yes. After changing your address through the appropriate DVLA service, you can check your driving information to ensure the record is up to date.
Does the DVLA service work for Northern Ireland?
The DVLA service applies to licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland operates a separate driving licence system.
Final Thoughts: View Driving Licence Online
Knowing how to view driving licence information online is an important part of managing your UK driving record.
Whether you need to confirm your driving entitlement, check penalty points, review a disqualification, prepare for car hire or provide information to an employer, the official DVLA online service provides a convenient way to access relevant driving information.
For your own record, you will normally need your driving licence number, National Insurance number and the postcode recorded on your licence. If you need to share your driving information, you can generate a temporary DVLA check code.
Always protect your personal information and only share your driving licence details or check code with an appropriate person or organisation.
For more information about UK driving licences, DVLA licence checks, driving records, licence replacement and licence renewal, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.