Full driving licence

Intro

You’ve spent a fortune to get it – your driving license is an essential document, and keeping it safe is one of the responsibilities of car ownership.

Not having your driving license handy can cause troubles, not least of which when you’re trying to prove you’re over 18!

Here are a few tips on the important parts of your driving license, how to get a replacement, and how to access your driving licence information online.

Is my driving license just the photo ID card?

Yep! Once upon a time, you were given two parts to your license – the card, and the ‘paper counterpart’. The paper part abolished in 2015, so all you need to worry about is your ID card.

I’ve lost my license – how do I get a replacement?

Losing your driving license is a pretty common occurrence, but you’ll, unfortunately, need to pay for a new one.

Simply use this DVLA service to order a new license. It’ll cost you 20 quid. The only scenario where you don’t need to pay for a new one is if you’ve moved address or the information on the card is different. You’ll receive a free one.

Make sure your license is up to date

If caught with a license that displays an incorrect address, you could face up to a £1000 fine.

How do I view my driving license online?

It can be helpful to check up on your license from time to time – particularly if you need to create a license’ check code’, perhaps for an employer or car hire company.

You’ll need your:

  • Driving license number
  • National insurance number
  • Postcode.

This GOV.UK service will let you:

    • View your driving record and what vehicles you can legally drive.
    • Check your penalty points.
    • Create a licence’ check code’ to share your driving record with someone this is valid for 21 days.