Driving Licence Checking
Verify a UK driving licence by number and DVLA share code in seconds.
Overview
Check a UK driving licence using the holder's licence number and a DVLA "view your driving licence" share code. Returns the driving status, validity dates, photocard expiry, full entitlements and any penalty-point endorsements.
Built for rental, fleet, insurance and gig-economy onboarding where you need to confirm someone can legally drive before handing over the keys.
Features
- Driving status and licence validity dates
- Photocard expiry date
- Full vehicle entitlements (categories held)
- Penalty-point endorsements with offence codes
- Total live points and offences
Example response
A successful check for licence MORGA657054SM9IJ. Illustrative values.
{
"data": {
"licence_number": "MORGA657054SM9IJ",
"driving_status": "Current full licence",
"valid_from": "2017-09-14",
"valid_to": "2027-09-13",
"photocard_expiry": "2027-09-13",
"entitlements": [
{
"category": "B",
"valid_from": "2017-09-14",
"valid_to": "2027-09-13"
},
{
"category": "BE",
"valid_from": "2017-09-14",
"valid_to": "2027-09-13"
}
],
"endorsements": [
{
"code": "SP30",
"points": 3,
"offence_date": "2024-06-02",
"valid_to": "2028-06-02"
}
],
"total_points": 3,
"total_offences": 1
},
"credit_balance": 490
}
Fields returned
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| licence_number | string | The driving licence number that was checked. |
| driving_status | string | The DVLA driving status (e.g. "Current full licence"). |
| valid_from | date | Date the licence became valid. |
| valid_to | date | Date the licence is valid until. |
| photocard_expiry | date | Expiry date of the photocard. |
| entitlements[].category | string | Vehicle category the holder is entitled to drive (e.g. B, BE). |
| entitlements[].valid_from | date | Date the entitlement became valid. |
| entitlements[].valid_to | date | Date the entitlement is valid until. |
| endorsements[].code | string | Offence code for the endorsement (e.g. SP30). |
| endorsements[].points | integer | Penalty points for the endorsement. |
| endorsements[].offence_date | date | Date of the offence. |
| endorsements[].valid_to | date | Date the endorsement remains on the record until. |
| total_points | integer | Total live penalty points on the licence. |
| total_offences | integer | Total endorsements/offences recorded. |
- What do I need to run a check?
-
The driver's licence number and an 8-character DVLA share code from the "Share your driving record" service. Share codes are case-sensitive and valid for 21 days.
- How is it billed?
-
Each successful check costs £1.50 on Tier 1, falling to £1.10 on the largest top-up tier. If the licence can't be verified you are not charged.