If you are searching for “DVLA driving licence check”, you may want to confirm your driving entitlement, check penalty points, review disqualifications or share your driving record with an employer or car hire company.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) provides online services that make it possible to access and share driving licence information for licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales. You can check your own driving record online and generate a temporary licence check code when another person or organisation needs to verify your information.
In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about a DVLA driving licence check, including how the online process works, what information you need, how check codes work and what to do if information on your driving record appears incorrect.
For more information about UK licences, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
What Is a DVLA Driving Licence Check?
A DVLA driving licence check is a way of accessing or verifying information associated with a driver’s official record.
Depending on what you need to do, a licence check can help you:
- View your driving record
- Confirm which vehicles you can drive
- Check penalty points
- Check disqualifications
- Generate a DVLA check code
- Share your driving information with an employer
- Share your driving record with a car hire company
The official DVLA online service allows eligible drivers to view their own driving record and create a check code for sharing relevant information.
If you are researching the UK driving licence system, you can also explore our UK driving licence guide.
How to Do a DVLA Driving Licence Check Online
If you want to check your own driving record, the official online process is relatively straightforward.
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 the official service.
Step-by-Step DVLA Driving Licence Check
Follow these steps:
- Go to the official GOV.UK service for viewing or sharing driving licence information.
- Enter your driving licence number.
- Enter your National Insurance number.
- Enter the postcode recorded on your licence.
- Submit your information.
- View your driving record.
- Check your driving entitlement and other available information.
- Create a check code if you need to share your record.
The service applies to driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales.
For related information, read our DVLA licence check guide.
What Can You Check With a DVLA Driving Licence Check?
A DVLA driving licence check can provide useful information about your current driving status.
1. Vehicle Entitlements
One of the main reasons to check your driving record is to confirm which vehicles you are legally entitled to drive.
This can be useful if you:
- Recently passed a driving test
- Added another category to your licence
- Are hiring a van
- Are starting a professional driving job
- Are unsure about an older licence entitlement
Your driving entitlement should always be confirmed 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, a DVLA driving licence check can help you establish what is recorded on your licence.
GOV.UK confirms that drivers can view their driving record to see penalty points and when endorsements are due to be removed.
3. Disqualifications
A DVLA check can also provide information about relevant driving disqualifications.
This is important because a driving disqualification can affect your legal entitlement to drive.
If you have previously been disqualified, do not assume that possessing a physical photocard means that you are currently entitled to drive. Check your official driving status and follow any requirements that apply.
Why Is a DVLA Driving Licence Check Important?
There are several situations in which checking your driving record can be useful.
Before Hiring a Car
A car hire company may request a DVLA check code before allowing you to collect a vehicle.
Before Starting a Driving Job
Employers may need to verify your driving entitlement and relevant record before you begin work.
After Receiving Penalty Points
Checking your record can help you confirm that relevant endorsements have been recorded correctly.
After a Driving Disqualification
You can check your record to understand your current driving status.
When Checking Your Licence Entitlements
If you are uncertain about which vehicles you can drive, checking your official record can provide useful confirmation.
When You Need to Share Your Driving Record
A DVLA check code allows you to give another person or organisation temporary access to relevant information.
DVLA Driving Licence Check for Car Hire
One of the most common reasons for requesting a DVLA driving licence check is car rental.
A vehicle hire company may need to confirm information such as:
- Your driving entitlement
- Penalty points
- Disqualifications
- Other relevant driving information
GOV.UK specifically explains that a licence check code can be used to share driving information with a car hire company.
What Should You Do Before Hiring a Car?
Before collecting a rental vehicle:
- Check your driving record online.
- Make sure your information is accurate.
- Generate a DVLA check code if requested.
- Give the check code to the rental company.
- Bring any additional documents required by the company.
Requirements can vary between rental companies, so check with the company before travelling.
DVLA Driving Licence Check for Employers
Employers may need to verify a person’s driving entitlement when driving is part of their job.
This may apply to:
- Delivery drivers
- Couriers
- Van drivers
- HGV drivers
- Bus drivers
- Coach drivers
- Taxi drivers
- Fleet drivers
- Company car drivers
A driver can generate a check code and provide it to the employer so the relevant information can be checked.
GOV.UK also provides a D888/1 process that companies can use to request information about a driver’s entitlement.
If you are looking for general licence information before applying for a driving position, visit our UK driving licence resource.
What Is a DVLA Licence Check Code?
A DVLA licence check code is a temporary code that allows a driver to share relevant information from their driving record.
For example, you may generate a check code when:
- Hiring a car
- Starting a new job
- Applying for a driving position
- Giving an employer permission to check your record
- Allowing another organisation to verify your driving entitlement
The driver creates the code through the official DVLA service.
According to GOV.UK, the code is valid for 21 days. It can only be used once.
How to Generate a DVLA Check Code
If an employer or car hire company asks for a DVLA check code, you can generate one through the official online service.
The process generally involves:
- Accessing your driving record.
- Selecting the option to share your licence information.
- Creating a check code.
- Giving the code to the organisation that needs to check your record.
- Providing the required licence information.
The check code is designed to give the recipient temporary access to relevant driving information without giving them unrestricted access to your personal account.
How Long Does a DVLA Check Code Last?
A DVLA check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
If the code has already been used or has expired, a new code will need to be generated.
How to Check Someone’s Driving Licence
A DVLA driving licence check can also refer to checking another person’s driving information.
However, you cannot simply access another driver’s personal information without their permission.
To use the official online service to check someone else’s driving information, you need:
- The driver’s permission
- A valid check code from the driver
- The last eight characters of their driving licence number
GOV.UK states that obtaining someone else’s personal information without their permission is a criminal offence.
This system allows employers, car hire companies and other legitimate organisations to verify driving information while protecting drivers’ privacy.
DVLA Driving Licence Check and Penalty Points
Penalty points are an important part of a driver’s record.
If you have recently received points, you may want to carry out a DVLA driving licence check to see what is recorded.
You may want to check your record after:
- Receiving a fixed penalty
- Being convicted of a motoring offence
- Receiving an endorsement
- Applying for a driving job
- Hiring a vehicle
GOV.UK provides an online service for checking endorsement details, including penalty points and the dates they are due to be removed.
Why New Drivers Should Check Their Record
New drivers should be particularly aware of 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.
Regularly checking your record can therefore help you stay informed about your driving status.
DVLA Driving Licence Check and Vehicle Categories
Your licence does not automatically give you permission to drive every type of vehicle.
Different driving licence categories provide different entitlements.
A DVLA check can therefore be useful if you are unsure whether you can drive:
- Cars
- Motorcycles
- Vans
- Larger vehicles
- Passenger-carrying vehicles
- Other vehicles requiring specific categories
If you have held your licence for many years, checking your current entitlement can be particularly useful because driving categories and rules can change.
Understanding Driving Licence Codes
When carrying out a DVLA driving licence check, you may encounter codes relating to restrictions or conditions on your licence.
For example, some licence codes indicate eyesight requirements, while others can relate to vehicle adaptations or other conditions.
If you do not understand a code, consult the relevant official DVLA guidance rather than making assumptions.
For more UK licence information, visit our driving licence information page.
Can You Do a DVLA Driving Licence Check Without an Account?
Yes.
You do not necessarily need to create a Driver and Vehicles account simply to view or share your driving licence information.
The dedicated DVLA service allows eligible drivers to access their driving record using their:
- Driving licence number
- National Insurance number
- Licence postcode
A separate Driver and Vehicles account provides access to a wider range of services.
What Is the DVLA Driver and Vehicles Account?
The Driver and Vehicles account gives users access to various DVLA 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, damaged or destroyed licence
- Change your address
- View a photo of your driving licence
- Create a licence check code
- Manage certain vehicle information
GOV.UK confirms 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.
DVLA Driving Licence Check After Changing Your Address
If you move house, you should make sure the address associated with your driving licence is updated.
After making the appropriate change, checking your driving record can help you confirm that your information is accurate.
Keeping your details up to date is important because DVLA correspondence may be sent to the address held on its records.
If you want more information about UK licence administration, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
DVLA Driving Licence Check After Losing Your Licence
Losing your physical photocard does not mean your driving record disappears.
If your licence has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you can apply for a replacement through the appropriate DVLA service.
You can also use your online driving record to access relevant information about your driving entitlement.
For more information, see our lost or stolen driving licence guide.
What If Your DVLA Driving Licence Information Is Incorrect?
After completing a DVLA driving licence check, you might notice information that appears to be wrong.
Possible issues include:
- Incorrect personal details
- Incorrect penalty points
- Incorrect driving entitlement
- An unexpected disqualification
- An endorsement you do not recognise
Do not ignore information that appears incorrect.
For endorsement details, GOV.UK advises contacting the court that convicted you if the endorsement information on your driving licence is incorrect.
For other types of driving-record issues, you may need to contact DVLA or follow the relevant official process.
DVLA Driving Licence Check for Northern Ireland
It is important to understand that the DVLA service does not cover every UK driving licence.
The GOV.UK DVLA online service for viewing or sharing driving licence information applies to licences issued in:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
Northern Ireland operates a separate driving licence system.
Therefore, if you are searching for DVLA driving licence check, first confirm that your licence was issued through the DVLA system.
Is a DVLA Driving Licence Check Free?
Viewing or sharing your own driving licence information through the standard online DVLA service is available online without a separate charge.
However, alternative methods of requesting driving information can have fees.
For most drivers who simply need to view their own record or create a check code, the online service is the most convenient option.
Why You Should Regularly Check Your DVLA Driving Record
Your driving licence is an important legal document, but the physical photocard does not tell you everything about your current driving record.
A regular DVLA driving licence check can help you:
- Confirm your vehicle entitlements
- Check penalty points
- Review disqualifications
- Prepare for car hire
- Prepare for employment
- Verify licence information
- Understand your driving status
- Identify information that may require attention
Being familiar with your driving record can be especially useful when you need to prove your entitlement at short notice.
Frequently Asked Questions About DVLA Driving Licence Checks
How do I perform a DVLA driving licence check?
You can use the official GOV.UK service to view your own driving record. You will normally need your driving licence number, National Insurance number and the postcode recorded on your licence.
What can I see during a DVLA licence check?
You can view information such as the vehicles you can drive, penalty points and disqualifications, depending on your record.
Can I check someone else’s driving licence?
Yes, with their permission. You need their check code and the last eight characters of their driving licence number.
How long is a DVLA check code valid?
A DVLA check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
Can an employer perform a DVLA driving licence check?
Yes. An employer can ask a driver to provide a check code or use the appropriate DVLA process to verify driver entitlement.
Can a car hire company check my driving licence?
Yes. A car hire company may ask you to provide a DVLA check code so it can verify relevant driving information.
Can I check my penalty points online?
Yes. You can view your driving record to see relevant penalty points and endorsement information.
Do I need a DVLA account?
No. You can view or share driving licence information through the dedicated online service without necessarily creating a Driver and Vehicles account.
Does the DVLA check service cover Northern Ireland?
No. The DVLA online service described here applies to licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has a separate licensing system.
Final Thoughts
A DVLA driving licence check is a useful way to stay informed about your official driving record.
Whether you need to confirm your vehicle entitlement, check penalty points, review a disqualification, prepare for a car rental or provide driving information to an employer, the official DVLA online services make the process straightforward.
For your own record, you will normally need your driving licence number, National Insurance number and licence postcode. If another person or organisation needs to check your driving information, you can generate a temporary check code and provide the required information.
Remember that DVLA check codes are designed to protect your privacy: they are valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
For more information about DVLA driving licences, licence checks, driving records, licence replacement and other UK driving licence topics, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.