When hiring a car, your car hire company will need to check your driving licence information.
On 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence was abolished. The counterpart contained information such as any penalty points you have. Similarly, old-style paper licences, issued until 1998, are still valid but they won’t be updated with penalty points. Instead, you can now view all your up-to-date driving licence information using DVLA’s View Driving Licence service.
These changes do not affect licences issued by DVA in Northern Ireland.
When collecting a vehicle from a hire company many only ask to see your photocard licence or your pre-1998 paper licence – but some also want to check whether you have any penalty points. They may ask for a code so that they can check your licence online or for a printout of your licence details.
What’s needed varies from company to company and between locations, so it is essential that you check with your hire company before you travel.
To find out how to obtain a code or printout for your hire company, please visit the DVLA website.
Other ways to apply
By post
To see what information the DVLA holds on your driving licence you can either send a request form or a letter with the following information to the DVLA:
- your full name and address
- your driver licence number (or your date of birth if you don’t know your driver number)
Send your request to:
Driver Licence Validation Service
DVRE 5
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AJ
It’s a criminal offence to obtain someone else’s personal information without their permission.
To view your driving license information, please follow this link: https://www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record/licence-number