A DVLA licence check is one of the most useful online services available to drivers in Great Britain. Whether you want to check your own driving record, confirm your driving entitlement, review penalty points or provide your driving information to an employer or car hire company, understanding how the DVLA licence check system works can help you manage your driving information more effectively.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) maintains driving records for motorists in England, Scotland and Wales. Through official online services, eligible drivers can view their driving record and create a licence check code that allows another person or organisation to check specific information with the driver’s permission.
This comprehensive guide explains how to do a DVLA licence check, what information you need, what a driving licence check code is, how someone else can check your licence and what information may appear on your driving record.
Important: This article is for general information. For an official DVLA licence check or to access your personal driving record, use the appropriate GOV.UK service.
For more UK driving licence information and related guides, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.
What Is a DVLA Licence Check?
A DVLA licence check allows a driver to access information held on their driving record or, with the driver’s permission, allows an authorised person or organisation to check relevant driving licence information.
The official DVLA online service can be used to:
- View your driving record
- Check the vehicles you are entitled to drive
- Check penalty points
- Check disqualifications
- Generate a driving licence check code
- Share your driving record with another person or organisation
The service is available for driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales.
If you are looking for information about your wider UK driving licence, visit our UK driving licence guide.
How to Do a DVLA Licence Check Online
Checking your own driving licence information is relatively straightforward.
You can use the official online service to view or share your driving licence information.
Before starting, 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 record securely.
Once you have successfully accessed your record, you can review the information held by DVLA and, if necessary, create a check code to share your record.
What Information Can You See During a DVLA Licence Check?
A DVLA licence check can provide useful information about your current driving status.
Depending on your record, you may be able to see:
- Your driving entitlement
- The vehicle categories you can drive
- Penalty points
- Disqualifications
- Relevant driving-record information
- Information that can be shared through a check code
The official DVLA service specifically allows drivers to check the vehicles they can drive and check penalty points or disqualifications.
This makes a DVLA licence check particularly useful when you need to confirm your driving status before starting a new driving-related job or hiring a vehicle.
What Is a DVLA Driving Licence Check Code?
A DVLA driving licence check code is a code generated by the driver that allows another person or organisation to view certain information from their driving record.
For example, you may need to provide a check code to:
- A car hire company
- An employer
- An insurance-related organisation
- Another organisation that needs to verify your driving entitlement
The driver generates the code and gives it to the organisation that needs to check the record.
According to GOV.UK, a check code is valid for 21 days.
For additional information about driving licences and DVLA services, visit ukdvladrivinglicence.com.
How to Generate a DVLA Licence Check Code
If you need to share your driving record, you can generate a licence check code through the official DVLA online service.
You will need to access your own driving licence information first.
The general process is:
- Open the official DVLA driving licence information service.
- Enter your driving licence number.
- Enter your National Insurance number.
- Enter the postcode recorded on your licence.
- Access your driving record.
- Select the option to create a licence check code.
- Give the code to the person or organisation that needs to check your driving information.
GOV.UK confirms that the check code can be used to share your driving record with another person or organisation, such as a car hire company.
How Long Is a DVLA Check Code Valid?
A DVLA licence check code is valid for 21 days.
It can only be used once. If another check is required after the code has been used or expired, you need to generate another code.
This is important when providing a check code to an employer or car rental company. Make sure the organisation uses the code within the validity period.
How to Check Someone Else’s Driving Licence
A different procedure applies if you need to perform a DVLA licence check on another driver.
You cannot simply enter another person’s personal details and access their driving record.
The driver must provide you with:
- The last eight characters of their driving licence number
- A valid check code generated by the driver
You then use these details through the official DVLA service to check the relevant driving information.
Can You Check Someone’s Licence Without Permission?
No.
You must have the appropriate permission and information from the driver.
GOV.UK states that obtaining someone else’s personal information without their permission is a criminal offence.
This privacy requirement is particularly important for employers, vehicle rental companies and other organisations that need to verify a person’s driving entitlement.
Why Would Someone Need a DVLA Licence Check?
There are several legitimate reasons for checking driving licence information.
1. Hiring a Car
Car rental companies may need to verify that you are legally entitled to drive before providing a vehicle.
A DVLA check code allows the company to access relevant driving information with your permission.
2. Starting a Driving Job
Employers may need to confirm that an employee has the correct driving entitlement.
This can be particularly important for jobs involving:
- Delivery driving
- HGV driving
- Van driving
- Taxi or private hire driving
- Bus or coach driving
- Company vehicles
3. Checking Penalty Points
A driver can use the DVLA online service to check penalty points and disqualifications recorded on their driving record.
This can help you keep track of your driving status.
4. Confirming Vehicle Entitlements
Your driving record can show which vehicle categories you are entitled to drive.
This can be useful when applying for driving-related employment or when checking whether you have the correct entitlement for a particular vehicle.
DVLA Licence Check and Penalty Points
Penalty points are recorded against a driver’s record when relevant driving offences result in endorsements.
Checking your driving record can help you identify:
- The number of penalty points recorded
- Endorsement information
- Relevant disqualifications
- When endorsements are due to be removed, where applicable
GOV.UK provides a service for drivers to view their endorsement details and find out when penalty points are due to be removed.
If you believe information on your driving record is incorrect, you should follow the appropriate official procedure to challenge or correct it.
DVLA Licence Check for Employers
Employers who require employees to drive as part of their job may need to verify their employees’ driving entitlement.
Instead of relying solely on a physical photocard, an employer can ask the driver to provide a DVLA check code.
The driver can generate the code and provide it to the employer, who can then check the relevant information using the official service.
DVLA guidance specifically recognises employers and other organisations as potential users of driver entitlement information, provided there is an appropriate reason and driver authorisation.
DVLA Licence Check for Car Hire
A car rental company may request a driving licence check before allowing you to collect a vehicle.
The company may ask for:
- Your driving licence
- The last eight characters of your licence number
- Your DVLA check code
The check code allows the company to verify relevant information from your driving record.
This can help confirm that you have the necessary entitlement and identify relevant penalty points or disqualifications.
DVLA Licence Check for Insurance
Driving information can sometimes be relevant to insurance applications and policies.
For example, an insurer may need information about your driving history or licence status.
You should always provide accurate information when applying for motor insurance. If an organisation asks you to provide a driving record or check code, make sure you understand exactly what information it requires.
DVLA Licence Check and Driving Disqualifications
A driving disqualification can have a significant impact on your legal entitlement to drive.
Checking your driving record allows you to see whether a disqualification is recorded.
You should never rely solely on your physical photocard to determine whether you are legally entitled to drive. Your official driving record contains important information about your current status.
If you have been disqualified, follow the requirements applicable to your case before driving again.
DVLA Driver and Vehicles Account
DVLA also provides a Driver and Vehicles account through GOV.UK.
Depending on your eligibility, the account can allow you to:
- View your driving record
- Check penalty points
- Check disqualifications
- Renew your photocard driving licence
- Replace a lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed licence
- Change your driving licence address
- Create a licence check code
- Manage certain vehicle information
GOV.UK states that the account can be used by people with a driving licence issued in England, Scotland or Wales or a V5C vehicle log book in their name.
For broader information about DVLA services, explore our DVLA driving licence resources.
DVLA Licence Check vs Driving Licence Number
These two terms are often confused.
Your driving licence number is a unique identifier associated with your driving licence.
A DVLA licence check is the process of accessing or verifying relevant information associated with a driving record.
A check code is a temporary code generated by the driver to allow another person or organisation to perform a permitted check.
Understanding the difference between these terms can make the DVLA process easier to navigate.
What If Your DVLA Licence Check Shows Incorrect Information?
If you believe your driving record contains incorrect information, do not ignore it.
For example, you may notice:
- An incorrect penalty endorsement
- Incorrect personal information
- An unexpected driving restriction
- Incorrect vehicle entitlement
- A disqualification that you believe should not appear
The appropriate response depends on the type of information that is incorrect.
For endorsement-related errors, GOV.UK advises contacting the court that convicted you if endorsement details are shown incorrectly.
If you need access to personal information held by DVLA beyond what is available through the standard online service, you can also make a subject access request. GOV.UK states that a subject access request for personal information held by DVLA is free.
Can You Check a DVLA Licence Without a Check Code?
If you are checking your own driving record, you do not normally need a check code. You can use the official DVLA service with your driving licence number, National Insurance number and licence postcode.
If you are checking someone else’s driving information, you need the driver’s permission, their check code and the last eight characters of their driving licence number.
The check code therefore plays an important role when a driver wants to share their record with another party.
Is a DVLA Licence Check Free?
Viewing or sharing your own driving licence information through the official online service is available without a separate fee.
However, other methods of requesting driver information may involve charges. For example, GOV.UK provides a postal process for checking someone else’s driving licence information using form D888/1, which currently requires a £5 payment.
For most everyday checks, the online service is the simplest option.
How Long Does a DVLA Licence Check Take?
An online DVLA licence check is generally designed to provide access to your driving information quickly once you successfully authenticate your details.
The exact experience can depend on whether your information matches DVLA’s records and whether there are issues requiring additional action.
If you are checking someone else’s licence, you also need to obtain the correct check code and licence information from the driver.
DVLA Licence Check for New Drivers
New drivers should understand the importance of checking their driving record, particularly during the first two years after passing their first driving test.
Penalty points can have serious consequences for newly qualified drivers.
GOV.UK states that a new driver’s licence will be revoked if they receive six or more penalty points within two years of passing their first driving test.
Regularly understanding your driving status can therefore help you remain aware of your legal entitlement.
DVLA Licence Check: Common Questions
What is a DVLA licence check?
A DVLA licence check allows a driver to view their driving record or share relevant driving information with another person or organisation using a temporary check code.
What do I need to check my own driving licence?
You normally need your driving licence number, National Insurance number and the postcode recorded on your driving licence.
What do I need to check someone else’s licence?
You need the driver’s permission, their check code and the last eight characters of their driving licence number.
How long is a DVLA check code valid?
A check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
Can an employer check my driving licence?
Yes. An employer can check relevant driving information when the driver provides the required authorisation and check code.
Can a car hire company check my driving record?
Yes. A car hire company can use a check code supplied by the driver to verify relevant driving information.
Can I check penalty points online?
Yes. The official DVLA service allows eligible drivers to check penalty points and disqualifications recorded on their driving record.
Can I check my driving licence if I have lost my photocard?
You may still be able to access your driving information through the appropriate online service, depending on your circumstances. If your licence has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you should also arrange a replacement through the official DVLA process.
For more information, read our lost driving licence guide.
Final Thoughts on the DVLA Licence Check
A DVLA licence check is an important tool for drivers, employers, car hire companies and other organisations that need to verify driving information.
For drivers, the official online service makes it possible to view a driving record, check penalty points and disqualifications, confirm driving entitlements and generate a temporary check code for sharing information.
If someone else needs to check your driving record, remember that you should provide permission and the required check code. A DVLA check code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once.
Keeping your driving information accurate and understanding how the DVLA checking system works can help you avoid problems when hiring a vehicle, starting a driving job or managing your driving licence.
For more useful information about driving licences, DVLA services and driving records, visit UK DVLA Driving Licence.