Check someone's driving licence — DVLA share code API
Verify a UK driving licence by number and DVLA share code in seconds.
Also known as: driving licence check · DVLA share code check · employee licence checking · grey fleet licence check
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.
Who uses this
Official registers
Vehicle records from the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service, MOT records from the DVSA MOT History API.
Charged on delivery
You are charged on a successful lookup. A lookup that returns nothing costs nothing.
No lock-in
No contract and no minimum. Credits last 12 months; monthly plans are rolling.
UK data protection
You act as controller and we act as processor for delivery, under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
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