From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA.
Our Share Driving Licence service is now available on GOV.UK. Our Check driving Licence service has been added to allow you to check the licence using the code provided by the driver.
We’ve provided step by step guides showing how you can share a licence and redeem a licence code to view a person’s driving licence.
Although the Share Driving Licence service is now available, customers should not destroy their paper counterpart until 8 June as it remains a valid document until that date.
Keeping up-to-date
Please keep an eye on this blog and our Digital Services blog for further updates.
30 comments
Comment by Hilary Sutch posted on
I will be away - with a hire car - over the period of the changeover. I assume that as I will collect the hire car on 5th June, with my paper counterpart this will be sufficient, or should I register to receive the code before I go?
Comment by DVLA digital comms team posted on
Hi Hilary
As the counterpart will still be valid on the 5 June there's no need to obtain a code but we advise that you check with your hire company.
Comment by Lucy posted on
Hi there,
Is it possible to gain consent from our employees to access this information every quarter using one code for the year? Or giving us consent to view this information as long as they are still working for us?
Thanks,
Lucy
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hi Lucy, the View Driving Licence service was designed for drivers to check their own records only, and should not be used by third parties to access driver information. If a third party needs to validate a driver record they should ask the licence holder to generate a check code and if the driver complies, this should be redeemed via the http://www.gov.uk/check-driving-licence.
If the driver has provided the physical photocard driving licence third parties should only need sight of current entitlements and endorsements. This information is made available when the check code is redeemed. Accessing View Driving Licence when you are not the record owner is a misuse of service and compromises personal driver data.
It is therefore strongly advised that third parties adhere to the access guidelines around View Driving Licence and Check Driving Licence. Thanks
Comment by Martin posted on
Hi Melinda, With regards to Lucy's comments from the 22/05/15, I note your reply that for businesses to use the Check Licence service once the employee has given them permission to do so is a misuse of the service & compromises Personal driver data but I cant see how this is the case if permission were given by the employee. Our employees currently sign a declaration confirming personal details for insurance purposes and a Mandate form allowing us to access their details via the FPE service (valid for 3 years). It would be a simple matter for us to alter our form to combine both intentions and in that way have the employees consent to us accessing their data directly using the check Licence online enquiry service. In this way I believe we would comply with Data Protection regulations and whilst I can see and understand that this is not the intention of your service, I cannot see the legal issue here. Perhaps this is one for the lawyers!
On a practical basis though, as a company with 150+ drivers, the FPE service is still the most logical and administratively less burdensome on all concerned despite the £5 fee/enquiry.
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hello Martin
It is for companies and employers to satisfy themselves that they are compliant with relevant law, and DVLA cannot provide legal advice or engage in legal discussions. However, DVLA recommends strongly that companies who want to obtain driving licence data use the Check Driving Licence service. The View Driving Licence service is intended for the driver’s use, and the Check Driving Licence service is designed to ensure that employers have the information that they need, are legally entitled to, and which allows the driver to have control over who sees their data.
Comment by David Bergin posted on
How do you obtain a code or paperwork to show that your licence is valid and clean, can you provide a link to make life easier for everyone please when hiring a car abroad.
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hi David, Here are some useful step by step guides on how to use the service. How to share your driving licence information and How to redeem a driving licence code. Thanks
Comment by Alan scott posted on
I am going to menorca on June 5th and have a car hire booking from June 8th to June 12th . When/how will I get code for car hire and will it last for the 4 days I have the car . I have old red driving licence with no photo Id .
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hi Alan, the individual hire company will set out the requirements in its terms and conditions and the documents needed to hire a vehicle should be available on the company website, we advise you to check with the hire company regarding the ID they accept. You can generate a code by following these instructions. Thanks
Comment by Sandra posted on
How long is the code valid for.
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hi Sandra, the check code is valid for 72 hours. Thanks
Comment by Rob R posted on
How do we cater for customers(especially the more mature ones) hiring a vehicle who don't access the internet or are uncomfortable with its use, or can't remember their NI number to get the relevant licence check?
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
There is an assisted digital telephone service which is charged at local rate (0300 083 0013), drivers unable to use the View Driving Licence service can call to receive a check code. Alternatively drivers can call DVLA on 0300 790 6801 and leave permission for their driving record to be checked verbally by a nominated person/organisation.
Drivers can find their National Insurance number on a payslip, P60 or tax return. If they still can’t find it, they can phone the National Insurance numbers helpline and answer some questions to be provided with their National Insurance number by post.
Comment by michael delahunty posted on
been trying to obtain code for renual of taxi licence sat sun& mon no joy i have never given dvla my nat ins no how can dvla have it
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hi
- The personal details you have provided are checked with other government departments to ensure that you are the person who is entitled to view the record.
- There may be differences in the information held by the various departments which means that we have not been able to verify your details
- This doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with these records, just that the information may be different.
Thanks
Comment by David Murfitt posted on
As a business owner operating in excess of 75 vehicles it is an administration burden to have to ask each employee to provide an access code each time we wish to check their driving licence. DVLA need to put a service in place to allow employees to authorise the use of ADD for a period of 3 years.This is no different to the previous system and will ensure our duty of care is exercised in satisfying ourselves that all drivers maintain a right to operate a motor vehicle legally.
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hi David. We have a range of driver enquiry services available, please see our Services Overview blog If you're interested in our ADD service you can find more information here or email abolitionofcounterpart@dvla.gsi.gov.uk Thanks
Comment by Graham posted on
Hi, Why is the code only valid for 72 hours. Thats a very short period of time and your site doesn't actually state that, atleast not at the point of requesting the code!
Comment by DVLA digital comms team posted on
Hi Graham
We’ve listened to feedback and we’ve extended the validity period to 21 days. See our blog for more information. Thanks
Comment by David posted on
Is the web page to generate a code accessible abroad?
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hi David
Yes David you can access from abroad. Please read this article for more information.
Comment by Jenny smith posted on
Hiya i hired a car for 20.07 .and i have lost my national insurance number can i still got the code without my ni num.thank i
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hi Jenny
If you don’t have your National Insurance number you will need to call our Contact Centre on 0300 083 0013 (local rate), opening hours are 8am – 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 2pm on Saturdays. An agent will take you through some security questions and once your identity has been validated, you'll be provided with a check code over the telephone.
Comment by Martin posted on
If I am travelling and renting multiple cars in different places over 3 weeks, will I need five different codes? How can I generate them all?
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Yes, the code is unique and can only be used once so you will need a new code for each hire company. You can generate up to 15 active codes, all last for 21 days.
Please see our step by step guide for sharing your driving licence with a third party.
Comment by Lynn Regan posted on
I have been trying to access dvla site for many days to obtain a code for car hire for 23rd July to 4th August in Uk as am coming from abroad. Unfortunatey it keeps telling me my details are incorrect when I know that they are not as I have checked and double checked. Please help
Comment by Melinda Greenacre posted on
Hello Lynn
If you're experiencing difficulties logging on to View Driving Licence you'll need to call our Contact Centre on 0300 083 0013 (local rate), opening hours are 8am – 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 2pm on Saturdays. They will be able to investigate further and provide you with a check code for your car hire over the telephone.
Comment by cara posted on
I've entered the correct information from my driving licence several times to be told the information is not correct. It's 1000% correct both my ni number and licence, I've even had someone else try it and it still says it's wrong. Why would that be?? Very frustrating.
Comment by DVLA digital comms team posted on
Hi Cara
If you're experiencing difficulties logging on to View Driving Licence you'll need to call our Contact Centre on 0300 083 0013 (local rate), opening hours are 8am – 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 2pm on Saturdays. They will be able to investigate further and provide you with a check code for your car hire over the telephone.