What a DVLA check code is, and why a hire company wants one
A check code lets a hire company see the parts of your driving record that are not printed on the card: the categories you can drive, and any points or disqualifications. You generate it yourself on GOV.UK, it is free, and it lasts 21 days.
Why we ask for one
The photocard shows who you are and what you are entitled to drive. It does not show endorsements, because the paper counterpart that used to carry them was abolished in 2015. The check code is what replaced it.
We are not looking for a reason to say no. The insurance that covers you to drive our car sets conditions about licence history, so we have to be able to see it, and it is far better for both of us to find out at the quote stage than on the day you are expecting to collect a car.
How to get one
Go to gov.uk/view-driving-licence and choose to share your licence information. It is free, and the only official place to do it. You should never pay for a check code.
You will need three things to hand:
- Your driving licence number, from the card.
- Your National Insurance number.
- The postcode on your driving licence.
If you cannot get online, the DVLA can also issue one over the phone.
Two things that catch people out
It lasts 21 days, not 72 hours
You will still find articles saying 72 hours. That was the original limit and the DVLA raised it to 21 days back in 2015. If you read the old figure somewhere and left generating your code until the last minute, that is why.
It can only be used once
Once a company has redeemed it, it is spent. If you are getting quotes from more than one place, you will need a code each, which is free and takes a couple of minutes, but is worth knowing before you hand the only one you generated to the first company that asks.
What if I have points?
Tell us when you enquire rather than hoping. Points do not automatically rule you out, and what matters is how many, what for and how recent — which are conditions set by the insurance rather than a judgement we are making about you.
Saying so up front costs you nothing and saves the version of this where you have arranged your week around collecting a car. What you need has the rest of what we check.
Checked against GOV.UK on 19 October 2026. The DVLA service is the authority on this, not us. If anything here disagrees with it, believe them.