How to check your driving licence online
The DVLA provides a free online service that lets you view your driving licence record, see your licence categories and any current endorsements, and generate a share code for employers or insurers. You need your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and postcode. Here is what the check shows and how to use it.
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What does the DVLA online check show?
The DVLA online driving licence check is available at gov.uk under "View driving licence information". After logging in with your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and postcode, you can see:
- Your licence status: full, provisional, or disqualified
- The vehicle categories you are entitled to drive and their expiry dates
- Any current endorsements, including the offence code, points value, and date the points expire
- Any conditions on your licence, such as corrective lenses or an automatic-only restriction
The check is read-only. It does not let you change any details. To update your address, change your name, or renew your photocard, you need a separate DVLA application. The online check is simply a view of your current record - what any DVLA licence check would return.
If the check reveals your licence is due to expire, our guide to renewing your driving licence explains how to do it online, the cost, and how long it takes.
The 16-character driver number encodes several pieces of personal information - our guide to what your driving licence number means decodes each section so you can read your own licence and spot any errors.
What is a share code and how do you generate one?
A share code is a unique, time-limited code that gives a third party read-only access to your driving licence record. You generate one from the same gov.uk page after viewing your own record. The code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once - after that it becomes invalid and you would need to generate a new one.
Share codes let employers, insurance providers, or vehicle hire companies verify your licence details without needing to see your physical card. You give them the code, they enter it at gov.uk along with your date of birth, and the system shows them your current record. You can generate as many codes as you need and there is no charge for doing so.
If the check shows endorsements you did not expect, our guide to penalty points explains how they are recorded, how long they last, and when they trigger a ban.
Who asks for a share code?
Employers who require drivers as part of a role routinely request a share code to confirm the licence is valid and free of relevant endorsements. For roles requiring a clean licence, the share code lets them check objectively without handling your physical document.
Vehicle hire companies frequently use share codes instead of physical licence checks to confirm category entitlements and endorsement history before releasing a vehicle.
Some insurers may ask for a share code as part of a fleet policy or commercial vehicle renewal. For standard personal motor policies, most insurers ask you to self-declare your record at application and may verify it via the Claims and Underwriting Exchange or other industry data sources.
A deceased person's driving licence and vehicle registration both need to be notified to the DVLA - the steps to take when moving a vehicle after bereavement explains the V5C transfer process and the insurance required to move the car legally.
Should you check your record before renewing insurance?
Yes - it is worth viewing your DVLA record before completing any insurance application or renewal so you can answer the questions accurately. The check shows which endorsements are current, their offence codes, and when each set of points expires. This is particularly useful if you are unsure whether a conviction from several years ago still needs to be declared.
Insurers typically ask about convictions in the past five years. A conviction older than five years whose points are still within their four or eleven-year retention period may not need to be declared - but always read the exact wording of the question on the form.
How penalty points affect car insurance explains how different offences feed into insurer premium calculations and what accurate disclosure changes.
Many drivers assume their licence is clean without ever checking - our guide to what counts as a clean driving licence explains the DVLA definition, how to check your record online, and why it matters for insurance premiums.
Can you check someone else's driving licence?
You cannot access another person's DVLA record without their permission. The gov.uk service only allows the licence holder to log in using their own credentials. If you need to verify another driver's record - for example before adding them as a named driver or lending your car - ask them to generate a share code and provide it to you. You then verify it at gov.uk using their date of birth. This process is secure: the code gives read-only access to the record and expires after 21 days, so there is no ongoing exposure after the check.
If you suspect insurance has been taken out using your details, checking available records is a good first step - our guide to whether someone can insure your car without your knowledge explains how it can happen and what steps to take.
What if there is an error on your driving licence record?
Occasionally DVLA records contain mistakes - an endorsement recorded against the wrong driver, incorrect personal details, or an expiry date that does not match the offence date. If you spot an error when checking your record online, contact DVLA directly to dispute it. Keep a copy of any evidence - your original court notice or fixed penalty notice, for example - as you may be asked to provide it.
An incorrect endorsement on your record can inflate your insurance premium unfairly. If you believe a conviction has been applied in error, dispute it with DVLA before it affects your renewal quote. The online check is also the fastest way to confirm whether an endorsement you know has reached its retention period has been correctly removed from your record.
If a condition has been recorded incorrectly on your licence record, correcting it early avoids insurance problems later - our guide to driving with a medical condition explains the DVLA reporting requirements and what to do if your condition changes.
Checking before insuring a temporary driver
If you are borrowing a car or adding a driver temporarily, the DVLA online check gives both you and the vehicle's owner confidence that the driver holds the correct licence and that there are no endorsements that might affect insurance. Some temporary car insurance providers ask about endorsements at application; checking the record first lets the driver answer accurately and ensures the cover placed reflects the actual risk.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my driving licence online?
Go to gov.uk and search for 'view driving licence information'. You need your driving licence number, National Insurance number, and postcode to log in.
What does the DVLA online check show?
Your licence status, vehicle categories and their expiry dates, any current endorsements with offence codes and expiry dates, and any conditions such as corrective lenses or automatic-only restrictions.
How long does a DVLA share code last?
21 days from the date it is generated. Each code can only be used once. There is no charge for generating a new code.
Is there a cost to check my driving licence online?
No. The DVLA online driving licence check and share code generation are both free of charge.
Can my insurer check my driving licence without my permission?
Insurers can verify claims history via industry databases. They cannot access your DVLA record directly without a share code, but may ask you to provide one as part of a policy application or claim.
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