In 2014 the DVLA made it possible to check your driving licence online. By signing in to the .GOV website, you can quickly and easily see important information such as what type of licence you hold, what vehicles you are licensed to drive, if you have incurred any penalty points or disqualifications and when your driving licence expires.

Checking your Driving Licence

To check your driving licence online you’ll need your driving licence number (16 characters), your national insurance number and your postcode as registered on your driving licence.

You can also create a “check code”. This is a uniquely generated code which is valid for 21 days, which you can share with others, such as insurance or car hire companies.

The service is free and available 24 hours a day. Learn more about checking your licence online by watching the short government video below:

Checking Someone Else’s Driving Licence

The DVLA have also made it possible to check someone else’s driving licence information online. You can use this service to check which vehicles another person is allowed drive for example, or any penalty points or disqualifications. This service is particularly handy for driving schools, car insurance and car hire companies, and other businesses that require a vehicle to be driven.

To check someone else’s driving licence online you will need their permission, which is given in the form of a “check code”, generated by the driver, which is valid for 21 days. You will also need the last 8 characters of their driving licence number.

For more information please visit the DVLA on the .GOV website.