If you want to check driving licence online, you can use the official DVLA service to access important information about your driving record. Whether you want to confirm your driving entitlement, check penalty points, review disqualifications or generate a licence check code for an employer or car hire company, checking your driving record online is a convenient way to stay informed.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) manages driving records for England, Scotland and Wales. Its online services allow eligible drivers to view and share relevant driving licence information.
In this guide, we explain how to check driving licence online, what information you need, what you can see on your record, how DVLA check codes work and what to do if your driving licence information is incorrect.
Important: This article is for general information. For an official check of your driving record, always use the appropriate GOV.UK DVLA service.
For more information about UK driving licences, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
What Does It Mean to Check a Driving Licence Online?
To check driving licence online generally means accessing your official driving record through an online service.
When you check your own driving record, you may be able to see:
- Your driving entitlements
- The vehicles you can drive
- Penalty points
- Disqualifications
- Relevant driving record information
- Information that can be shared with another person or organisation
The official GOV.UK service allows eligible drivers to view their driving record and create a licence check code when they need to share their information. (gov.uk)
An online licence check can be useful for both everyday motorists and people who need to prove their driving entitlement for work or vehicle hire.
How to Check Driving Licence Online
If you want to check driving licence online, the process is straightforward.
For an online check of your own driving record, you will normally need:
- Your driving licence number
- Your National Insurance number
- The postcode recorded on your driving licence
These details are used to access your driving information through the official service. (gov.uk)
Step-by-Step Online Driving Licence Check
Follow these general steps:
Step 1: Visit the official GOV.UK service for viewing or sharing driving licence information.
Step 2: Enter your driving licence number.
Step 3: Enter your National Insurance number.
Step 4: Enter the postcode recorded on your driving licence.
Step 5: Submit your details.
Step 6: Review your driving record and available licence information.
Step 7: Generate a check code if you need to share your record with another person or organisation.
If you need more information about DVLA services, explore our DVLA driving licence guide.
What Information Can You Check Online?
When you check driving licence online, the information available can help you understand your current driving status.
Driving Entitlements
Your driving record can show which vehicle categories you are entitled to drive.
This is useful if you are unsure whether your licence covers a particular vehicle.
For example, you might want to check your licence before:
- Buying a van
- Hiring a car
- Driving a motorcycle
- Starting a driving job
- Driving a company vehicle
- Taking a larger vehicle on the road
It is always important to make sure you have the correct entitlement before driving a vehicle.
Penalty Points
You can also check whether penalty points are recorded against your driving record.
This is particularly useful if you have recently received a driving endorsement or been convicted of a motoring offence.
Checking your record can help you understand your current position before applying for a job or hiring a vehicle.
The official DVLA service allows eligible drivers to check penalty points and disqualifications. (gov.uk)
Driving Disqualifications
Your driving record can also contain information about disqualifications.
A driving disqualification can affect your legal entitlement to drive, so it is important to understand your current status.
If you have previously been disqualified, do not rely solely on the physical photocard to determine whether you can legally drive. Check your official driving record and follow any requirements that apply to your case.
Why Check Driving Licence Online?
There are many reasons why motorists search for check driving licence online.
Confirm Your Driving Entitlement
You may want to confirm exactly which vehicles you are entitled to drive.
Check Penalty Points
You can review relevant penalty points and endorsements recorded on your driving record.
Check Disqualifications
You can check whether a disqualification is recorded against your licence.
Prepare for Car Hire
A car rental company may request a DVLA check code before allowing you to collect a vehicle.
Prepare for Employment
An employer may need to verify your driving entitlement if driving is part of your job.
Check Your Driving Information
Regularly reviewing your driving record can help you identify information that may require attention.
For more information, visit our UK driving licence information.
Check Driving Licence Online for Car Hire
One of the most common reasons motorists need to check driving licence online is when hiring a vehicle.
Car hire companies may want to confirm that you have the correct driving entitlement and check relevant penalty points or disqualifications.
GOV.UK specifically identifies car hire companies as an example of organisations that may need to view a driver’s record. (gov.uk)
The company may ask you to generate a DVLA check code.
What Should You Do Before Hiring a Car?
Before collecting a rental vehicle:
- Check your driving record.
- Confirm that your driving entitlement is correct.
- Generate a DVLA check code if requested.
- Provide the code to the rental company.
- Make sure you have any additional documents required by the rental company.
Because a check code is temporary, it is sensible to generate it close to the time it will be used.
Check Driving Licence Online for Employment
If you are applying for a job that involves driving, your employer may need to verify your licence.
This can apply to:
- Delivery drivers
- Courier drivers
- Van drivers
- HGV drivers
- Taxi drivers
- Bus drivers
- Coach drivers
- Fleet drivers
- Company vehicle drivers
An employer may ask you to provide a DVLA check code so they can verify relevant information from your driving record.
This can help the employer establish whether you have the correct driving entitlement and identify relevant endorsements or disqualifications.
GOV.UK also provides a process for companies to request driver entitlement information. (gov.uk)
What Is a DVLA Check Code?
A DVLA check code is a temporary code that allows you to share relevant information from your driving record with another person or organisation.
You may need one when:
- Hiring a vehicle
- Starting a driving job
- Providing driving information to an employer
- Allowing an organisation to verify your driving entitlement
The driver generates the check code and provides it to the organisation that needs to perform the check.
According to GOV.UK, the code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once. (gov.uk)
For additional information, see our DVLA licence check guide.
How to Generate a DVLA Check Code
If you need to share your driving record, you can generate a check code through the official DVLA service.
The general process involves:
- Accessing your driving record.
- Selecting the option to share your driving licence information.
- Generating a check code.
- Giving the code to the relevant person or organisation.
- Providing the required part of your driving licence number.
The check code provides temporary access to relevant driving information while helping protect the driver’s personal information.
How Long Does a DVLA Check Code Last?
A DVLA check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once. (gov.uk)
If the code has expired or has already been used, you will need to generate a new one.
Can You Check Someone Else’s Driving Licence Online?
Yes, but you cannot simply access another person’s driving record without their involvement.
If you need to check driving licence online information belonging to another person, the driver must provide the appropriate permission and information.
You will normally need:
- The driver’s permission
- A valid check code
- The last eight characters of the driver’s driving licence number
GOV.UK states that obtaining someone else’s personal information without permission is a criminal offence. (gov.uk)
This process is designed to allow legitimate checks while protecting drivers’ personal information.
Check Driving Licence Online and Penalty Points
Penalty points can affect your driving status, insurance and employment opportunities.
If you have recently received points, checking your driving record can help you confirm what is recorded.
You may want to check driving licence online if you:
- Have recently received a fixed penalty
- Have been convicted of a motoring offence
- Are applying for a driving job
- Need to hire a vehicle
- Want to confirm your current driving status
New drivers should pay particular attention to their penalty points.
Under the New Drivers Act, a driving licence can be revoked if a driver receives six or more penalty points within two years of passing their first driving test. (gov.uk)
Check Driving Licence Online and Vehicle Categories
A UK driving licence can provide entitlement to different categories of vehicles.
If you are unsure what you can drive, checking your official record can help.
This is especially important if you have:
- Passed additional driving tests
- Added categories to your licence
- Changed your licence
- Held your licence for many years
- Started a new driving job
Do not assume that another driver’s licence categories are the same as yours.
Always confirm your own entitlement before driving a vehicle.
For broader information, visit our UK driving licence guide.
Understanding UK Driving Licence Codes
When you check driving licence online, you may also want to understand the codes associated with your driving entitlement.
Driving licence codes can indicate conditions or restrictions.
For example, code 01 relates to eyesight correction. Other codes can relate to vehicle adaptations or other driving conditions. (gov.uk)
If you do not understand a code appearing on your licence, consult official DVLA guidance rather than guessing what it means.
Check Driving Licence Online Without an Account
You do not necessarily need a Driver and Vehicles account to view your own driving information.
GOV.UK provides a dedicated service that allows eligible drivers to view or share their driving licence information.
You will normally need:
- Driving licence number
- National Insurance number
- Licence postcode (gov.uk)
A Driver and Vehicles account provides additional functionality, but it is not required for every driving licence check.
What Is a Driver and Vehicles Account?
The DVLA Driver and Vehicles account gives drivers access to several online 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, stolen or damaged licence
- Change your address
- Create a licence check code
- Access 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. (gov.uk)
Check Driving Licence Online After Moving House
If you have recently moved house, you should make sure your driving licence information is updated.
Changing the address on a GB photocard driving licence is free through the official online DVLA service. (gov.uk)
After making the change, you can check driving licence online to confirm that your information has been updated.
Keeping your address current is important because DVLA correspondence may be sent to the address recorded on your licence.
Check Driving Licence Online After Losing Your Licence
If your photocard has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you can apply for a replacement.
The current replacement fee for a GB driving licence is £20. (gov.uk)
Losing the physical licence does not mean that your underlying driving record disappears.
If you need information about replacing a missing licence, read our lost or stolen driving licence guide.
What If Your Online Driving Licence Information Is Incorrect?
After you check driving licence online, you might discover information that appears to be incorrect.
Potential problems can include:
- Incorrect personal details
- Incorrect penalty points
- Incorrect vehicle entitlement
- Unexpected disqualifications
- Licence restrictions you do not recognise
If you believe something is wrong, do not ignore it.
The appropriate procedure depends on the information involved. Some endorsement-related issues may need to be addressed with the relevant court, while other matters may require contacting DVLA.
For more information about UK licence administration, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
Check Driving Licence Online: Great Britain and Northern Ireland
It is important to understand the difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom when checking a driving licence.
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 check driving licence online, make sure you use the appropriate service for the jurisdiction that issued your licence.
Is It Free to Check 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 fee. (gov.uk)
Other methods of requesting driving information may have charges.
For most drivers who simply want to check their own record or generate a check code, the online service is the easiest option.
Why Regularly Check Your Driving Licence Online?
Many people only think about their driving licence when they need to renew it. However, checking your driving record periodically can be useful.
A check driving licence online search can help you:
- Confirm your current driving entitlement
- Check penalty points
- Review disqualifications
- Prepare for car hire
- Prepare for employment
- Check licence information
- Identify potential errors
- Understand licence categories
Keeping your information up to date can help prevent unnecessary problems.
Frequently Asked Questions About Checking a Driving Licence Online
How do I check my driving licence online?
Use the official DVLA online service to view or share your driving licence information. You will normally need your driving licence number, National Insurance number and licence postcode. (gov.uk)
Can I check my driving record online?
Yes. Eligible drivers can view their driving record online, including information about vehicle entitlements, penalty points and disqualifications. (gov.uk)
Can I check someone else’s driving licence online?
Yes, but the driver must provide permission, a valid check code and the last eight characters of their driving licence number. (gov.uk)
How long is a DVLA check code valid?
A DVLA check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once. (gov.uk)
Can an employer check my driving licence?
Yes. Employers can request appropriate driving information from employees or prospective employees, subject to the applicable authorisation and verification process.
Can I check my driving licence before hiring a car?
Yes. It is often useful to check your record and generate a DVLA check code before collecting a rental vehicle if the company requests one.
Can I check my penalty points online?
Yes. The official DVLA service allows eligible drivers to check penalty points and disqualifications. (gov.uk)
Do I need a DVLA account to check my licence?
No. You can use the dedicated online service to view or share your driving information without necessarily creating a Driver and Vehicles account. (gov.uk)
Does the DVLA online service work for Northern Ireland?
The DVLA service covers driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has a separate driving licence authority.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to check driving licence online is an important part of managing your UK driving record.
Whether you want to confirm your driving entitlement, check penalty points, review disqualifications, prepare for car hire or provide your driving information to an employer, the official DVLA online service provides a convenient way to access relevant information.
To check your own record, you will normally need your driving licence number, National Insurance number and licence postcode. If another organisation needs to verify your record, you can generate a temporary DVLA check code.
Remember that a check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once. Always protect your personal information and only provide your licence details and check code to an appropriate person or organisation.
For more useful information about UK driving licences, DVLA licence checks, driving records, licence replacement and licence renewal, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.