If you are searching for “check licence status”, you may want to know whether your UK driving licence is valid, what vehicles you can drive, whether you have penalty points, or whether a disqualification is affecting your driving entitlement.
Checking your licence status online is a useful way to keep track of your driving information. For driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales, the official GOV.UK service allows drivers to view their driving record, check penalty points and disqualifications, and create a licence check code to share their information with an authorised person or organisation.
In this guide, we explain exactly what check licence status means, how to check your UK driving licence online, what information you can see, and what to do if something appears to be incorrect.
For more UK driving licence information, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
What Does “Check Licence Status” Mean?
When people search for “check licence status”, they are usually looking for information about the current condition of their driving licence.
Your licence status can help you determine:
- Whether you currently have driving entitlement
- Which vehicle categories you can drive
- Whether penalty points are recorded
- Whether you have a driving disqualification
- Whether your licence information is up to date
- Whether you need to take further action regarding your licence
- Whether you can provide your driving details to an employer or car hire company
Your physical photocard is only one part of your driving information. Your electronic driving record can contain additional information about your driving entitlement and endorsements.
The official GOV.UK service allows eligible drivers to view their driving record, including vehicles they can drive, penalty points and disqualifications.
If you are interested in related information, read our DVLA driving record guide.
How to Check Licence Status Online
One of the easiest ways to check licence status is to use the official GOV.UK driving licence service.
Before you start, you will normally need:
- Your driving licence number
- Your National Insurance number
- The postcode shown on your driving licence
These details are required to access your own driving licence information through the online service.
Step-by-Step Guide to Check Licence Status
Step 1: Access the Official Online Service
Go to the official GOV.UK service for viewing or sharing driving licence information.
Step 2: Enter Your Driving Licence Number
Enter your driving licence number carefully and make sure the information matches your licence.
Step 3: Enter Your National Insurance Number
Provide your National Insurance number when requested.
Step 4: Enter Your Licence Postcode
Enter the postcode currently recorded on your driving licence.
Step 5: View Your Driving Information
After your details have been verified, you can access your available driving information.
Step 6: Review Your Licence Status
Check your driving entitlement, penalty points, disqualifications and other relevant information.
Step 7: Generate a Check Code if Necessary
If an employer or car hire company needs to verify your driving information, you can create a temporary licence check code.
For another related resource, see our DVLA licence check guide.
What Can You See When You Check Licence Status?
When you check licence status, you can access several important areas of your driving record.
1. Vehicle Entitlements
Your driving record can show which vehicle categories you are entitled to drive.
This is particularly useful if you are:
- Hiring a vehicle
- Starting a driving job
- Driving a company vehicle
- Adding another licence category
- Unsure about your current entitlements
The specific vehicles you can drive depend on your licence categories and applicable restrictions.
If you are unsure about your category, it is better to check your official record rather than assume you have a particular entitlement.
2. Penalty Points
Your driving record can show penalty points and endorsements resulting from motoring offences.
GOV.UK explains that drivers can view their driving licence record to see their penalty points and when they are due to be removed.
Penalty points can affect your driving status, insurance and, in some circumstances, your ability to continue driving.
For example, endorsements can remain on a driving record for four or 11 years, depending on the offence.
This makes checking your record particularly important after receiving a motoring conviction or fixed penalty.
3. Driving Disqualifications
A disqualification can have a major effect on your licence status.
You can be disqualified after being convicted of certain driving offences or after accumulating 12 or more penalty points within three years.
If you have previously been banned from driving, checking your online record can help you understand whether the disqualification is still active.
Do not assume that simply possessing a physical driving licence means that you are legally entitled to drive.
Why Should You Check Licence Status?
There are many reasons to check licence status.
Before Starting a Driving Job
Employers may need to verify that you have the appropriate driving entitlement.
Before Hiring a Vehicle
A car rental company may ask you to provide a DVLA check code.
After Receiving Penalty Points
You can review your driving record to see what has been recorded.
After Passing Your Driving Test
Checking your record can help you confirm your new driving entitlement.
After a Disqualification
You can use your driving record to check relevant disqualification information.
After Updating Your Details
If you change your address or other licence information, reviewing your record can help confirm that your details have been updated.
For more UK driving licence information, visit our UK driving licence guide.
Check Licence Status After Passing Your Driving Test
If you have recently passed your driving test, you may want to check licence status to confirm your driving entitlement.
This is especially useful if:
- You have just passed your first practical driving test
- You have upgraded from a provisional licence
- You have added another driving category
- You are starting a job that requires driving
- You need to prove your entitlement to drive
New drivers should also be aware of the special rules concerning penalty points.
Under the New Drivers Act, a new driver’s licence can be revoked if they receive six or more penalty points within two years of passing their first driving test.
Therefore, new motorists should understand how their driving record works and keep their information under review.
Check Licence Status for Penalty Points
Penalty points are one of the most common reasons motorists search for “check licence status.”
If you have received a motoring offence, you may want to know:
- How many points are currently on your licence
- Which offence resulted in the points
- When the endorsement was added
- When the endorsement is due to be removed
- Whether your points could result in disqualification
The official DVLA record contains endorsement information, and the length of time an endorsement remains on the record depends on the offence.
How Many Points Can Affect Your Licence Status?
Under the general totting-up rules, you can be disqualified if you accumulate 12 or more penalty points within three years.
The potential length of the disqualification can depend on your circumstances and previous disqualifications.
GOV.UK states that a totting-up disqualification can be:
- 6 months for 12 or more points within three years
- 12 months for a second disqualification within three years
- 2 years for a third disqualification within three years
Because penalty points can have serious consequences, it is sensible to check your record rather than rely on memory.
Check Licence Status for New Drivers
New drivers have additional rules that make it particularly important to check licence status.
If you receive penalty points during the first two years after passing your first driving test, those points can affect your licence.
If you reach six or more penalty points during this period, your licence can be revoked.
If your licence is revoked under the New Drivers Act, you must obtain a new provisional licence and pass the required tests again before obtaining a full licence.
For more information about UK licences, visit our UK DVLA driving licence resource.
Check Licence Status for Vehicle Categories
Another reason to check licence status is to confirm the vehicle categories you can drive.
Different UK driving licence categories cover different types of vehicles.
Depending on your licence, you may have entitlement to drive:
- Cars
- Motorcycles
- Vans
- Medium-sized vehicles
- Large goods vehicles
- Buses
- Minibuses
- Other vehicle categories
However, entitlement can depend on factors such as when you obtained your licence, the category held and any restrictions attached to it.
Before driving an unfamiliar vehicle, check your official driving record to confirm your entitlement.
What Are Driving Licence Restriction Codes?
Your driving licence may contain codes that specify restrictions or conditions associated with your entitlement.
Some codes relate to matters such as:
- Eyesight correction
- Vehicle adaptations
- Specific vehicle restrictions
- Other driving conditions
When you check licence status, do not look only at whether a vehicle category is listed. You should also consider any restrictions that apply to that entitlement.
Failure to comply with a licence restriction can create legal and insurance problems.
Check Licence Status Before Hiring a Car
If you are planning to rent a car, you may be asked to provide information from your driving record.
Some car hire companies use the DVLA check-code system to verify a customer’s driving entitlement.
Before collecting a rental vehicle, consider:
- Checking your licence status.
- Reviewing your penalty points.
- Confirming your vehicle entitlement.
- Checking for any current disqualification.
- Generating a check code if requested.
- Taking your physical driving licence and other required documents.
GOV.UK specifically provides a service for creating a licence check code that can be shared with organisations such as car hire companies. The code is valid for 21 days.
Individual rental companies can have different requirements, so check their terms before travelling.
Check Licence Status for Employment
If driving is part of your job, your employer may need to verify your licence information.
This can apply to:
- Delivery drivers
- Courier drivers
- Van drivers
- HGV drivers
- Bus drivers
- Coach drivers
- Taxi drivers
- Fleet drivers
- Company car drivers
You can generate a DVLA check code and give it to an employer who needs to verify your driving information.
Employers can use the appropriate DVLA service to check information such as the vehicles a driver can drive and whether penalty points or disqualifications are recorded.
For information about checking driving records, see our check driving record guide.
What Is a DVLA Licence Check Code?
A DVLA licence check code is a temporary code that allows you to share relevant driving record information with another person or organisation.
You might need one when:
- Starting a driving job
- Hiring a vehicle
- Providing driving information to an employer
- Applying for a position that requires driving
- Allowing an organisation to verify your driving entitlement
The official GOV.UK service states that a check code is valid for 21 days.
How to Check Someone Else’s Licence Status
You can check another person’s driving information, but you need their permission.
To use the official online service, you need:
- The last eight characters of their driving licence number
- A valid check code from the driver
The check code must be used within 21 days and can only be used once.
GOV.UK also states that obtaining another person’s personal information without their permission is a criminal offence.
This is particularly relevant to employers, vehicle rental companies and other organisations that have a legitimate reason to verify someone’s driving entitlement.
Check Licence Status After a Driving Disqualification
If you have been disqualified from driving, checking your licence status is especially important.
A driving ban can result from:
- A court conviction
- Accumulating 12 or more penalty points within three years
- Certain serious driving offences
The length of a ban depends on the circumstances and the court’s decision.
For disqualifications lasting 56 days or more, GOV.UK states that you must apply for a new licence before driving again, and you may also need to retake a driving test.
For disqualifications lasting less than 56 days, you cannot drive until the disqualification ends, but you do not need to apply for a new licence before driving again.
What If Your Licence Status Is Incorrect?
After you check licence status, you may discover information that you believe is incorrect.
For example:
- Your penalty points appear incorrect.
- You see an endorsement you do not recognise.
- Your vehicle entitlement appears wrong.
- A disqualification is shown unexpectedly.
- Your personal details are outdated.
Do not ignore an apparent error.
The appropriate procedure depends on the type of information involved.
For incorrect endorsement details, GOV.UK advises contacting the court that convicted you.
For other problems, you may need to contact DVLA directly or follow the relevant official procedure.
Check Licence Status After Changing Address
If you have moved house, you should update the address associated with your driving licence.
The DVLA Driver and Vehicles account provides a service for changing the address on your driving licence.
After making a change, checking your licence status can help you confirm that your information is correct.
Keeping your address up to date is important because DVLA correspondence can be sent to the address recorded for your licence.
For more information, visit our DVLA driving licence guide.
Check Licence Status After Losing Your Driving Licence
Losing your physical driving licence does not mean your driving record disappears.
If your photocard has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you can use the appropriate DVLA service to apply for a replacement. The Driver and Vehicles account includes a replacement service for these circumstances.
If you need more information, read our lost or stolen driving licence guide.
Can You Check Licence Status Without a DVLA Account?
Yes.
GOV.UK provides a dedicated service for viewing or sharing driving licence information without requiring you to create a Driver and Vehicles account.
To use it, you will normally need:
- Your driving licence number
- Your National Insurance number
- The postcode on your driving licence
However, a Driver and Vehicles account provides access to additional services, including viewing your driving record, checking penalty points or disqualifications, renewing or replacing a licence, changing your address and creating a check code.
What Is the DVLA Driver and Vehicles Account?
The Driver and Vehicles account brings several DVLA services together.
According to GOV.UK, you can use the account to:
- View your driving record
- Check penalty points
- Check disqualifications
- Renew your photocard licence
- Replace a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed licence
- Change the address on your licence
- View a photo of your driving licence
- Create a licence check code
- Access CPC and tachograph information where applicable
The account is available to people with a driving licence issued in England, Scotland or Wales, among other eligibility requirements.
Check Licence Status When Waiting for a New Licence
If you have recently applied for a new or renewed driving licence, you may want to know what is happening with your application.
GOV.UK provides an online service for tracking driving licence applications. You can use your Driver and Vehicles account and application reference to track progress.
This is different from simply checking your current driving record.
If you are waiting for a replacement or renewed licence, make sure you distinguish between checking your driving record and tracking your licence application.
Check Licence Status: Great Britain vs Northern Ireland
An important distinction is that the DVLA system covered by this article applies to driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales.
Northern Ireland has a separate driving licence system.
Therefore, if you hold a Northern Ireland driving licence, you should use the relevant Driver & Vehicle Agency service rather than assuming the Great Britain DVLA service applies.
How Often Should You Check Your Licence Status?
There is no general requirement for every motorist to check their record on a fixed schedule.
However, it can be useful to check licence status after important events, such as:
- Passing your driving test
- Receiving penalty points
- Being convicted of a motoring offence
- Completing a driving disqualification
- Changing your address
- Adding a new driving category
- Renewing your photocard
- Applying for a replacement licence
- Starting a driving-related job
- Hiring a vehicle
Professional drivers may also need to provide current driving information to their employers periodically.
Frequently Asked Questions About Check Licence Status
How do I check my licence status online?
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 on your licence.
Can I check my driving licence status for free?
The standard online service for viewing or sharing your driving licence information is available through GOV.UK. Be cautious of unofficial websites that charge you simply to access a service that GOV.UK provides directly.
How do I know if my driving licence is valid?
Review your official driving record to see your current driving information, including vehicle entitlements, penalty points and disqualifications.
Can I check my penalty points online?
Yes. Your driving record can show penalty points and endorsement information.
Can I check if I am disqualified from driving?
Yes. Your driving record can show relevant disqualification information. GOV.UK specifically advises drivers disqualified for less than 56 days to check their driving record online.
What is a DVLA check code?
It is a temporary code that allows you to share relevant driving record information with another person or organisation. It is valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
Can an employer check my licence status?
Yes. An employer can verify relevant driving information when you provide the necessary permission and check-code information.
Can a car hire company check my driving record?
Yes. A car hire company may ask you for a DVLA check code to verify your driving information.
Can I check someone else’s licence status?
Yes, with their permission. The official service requires the last eight characters of their licence number and a check code from the driver.
Does the DVLA service cover Northern Ireland?
No. The service discussed here covers driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland operates a separate system.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to check licence status online can help you stay informed about your UK driving entitlement.
Whether you want to check your vehicle categories, review penalty points, confirm a disqualification, prepare for car hire, start a driving job or verify recently updated information, your official driving record is an important source of information.
For the standard online service, 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 with an employer or car hire company, you can create a DVLA check code. The code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
For more information about UK driving licences, DVLA driving records, licence checks, penalty points, driving status and licence applications, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.