DVLA Counterpart Check Code: What Drivers Need to Know in 2026?

A DVLA counterpart check code is a temporary code that allows an employer, car hire company or another authorised organisation to check a driver’s current licence information online.

It has effectively replaced the need to use the old paper counterpart for driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales.

Drivers can create the code through the official GOV.UK driving licence service. The code is valid for 21 days and can normally be used only once.

It allows another person or organisation to check details such as the types of vehicles the driver can legally drive, penalty points, disqualifications and the current status of the licence.

The system is particularly useful when starting a driving-related job, hiring a car or van, or proving driving entitlement to an organisation that needs an up-to-date DVLA record.

What Is a DVLA Counterpart Check Code and Why Is It Needed?

The DVLA counterpart check code is commonly known as a driving licence check code. It gives a third party temporary access to selected information from a driver’s DVLA record.

The system became important after the paper counterpart of the Great Britain photocard driving licence was abolished in June 2015.

Previously, the paper document contained information such as driving endorsements and penalty points. That information is now held electronically by the DVLA.

This means an old paper counterpart should not be used as proof of a driver’s current record. Employers, vehicle rental businesses and other organisations that need to verify a licence can instead ask the driver to create a check code.

The code can help confirm important details such as:

• whether the driving licence is valid
• which vehicle categories the person can drive
• whether penalty points are recorded
• whether the driver has been disqualified
• the current status of the driving entitlement

The driver remains in control of the process because they must generate and provide the code. The organisation carrying out the check will normally also need the last eight characters of the driving licence number.

A check code can be especially important for London drivers working in delivery, private transport, construction, logistics or other jobs that involve driving company vehicles. Car and van rental companies may also request one before releasing a vehicle.

Drivers should only give the code to an employer, hire company or another trusted organisation that has a legitimate reason to check their driving record.

How Can Drivers Get a DVLA Check Code?

A driver with a licence issued in England, Scotland or Wales can use the GOV.UK View or share your driving licence information service.

To use it, the driver normally needs their driving licence number, National Insurance number and the postcode shown on the driving licence.

After accessing the record, the driver can create a check code to share with an employer, car hire company or another organisation that has a legitimate reason to view the licence.

The service also lets drivers review their own driving record, including vehicle categories, penalty points and disqualifications.

A driver does not need to hand over their National Insurance number to the employer or hire company. The third party uses the check code together with the required characters from the driving licence number.

Drivers who need their record checked more than once should create a new code when necessary. GOV.UK also says a licence check code can be obtained through a driver and vehicle account.

The standard government service allows eligible Great Britain licence holders to view their record and create the code directly.

How Long Is the Check Code Valid and What Can It Show?

A DVLA driving licence check code is valid for 21 days. It can be used only once. After an organisation has redeemed it, another code is required for a further check.

This matters for drivers applying to several employers or using more than one vehicle hire company. The same code should not be expected to work repeatedly for different organisations.

The person carrying out the check can view the driver’s current licence information, including the categories of vehicle they can drive and any penalty points or disqualifications shown on the record. GOV.UK also allows the checker to save or print the information if needed.

Because the code expires, drivers should avoid generating one too early. Someone hiring a vehicle later in the month, for example, should confirm when the hire company plans to check the licence.

Not every hire company follows exactly the same collection procedure.

Some may only ask for the physical photocard, while others may request a check code or a printed summary when they want to confirm endorsements. GOV.UK advises customers to check with the hire company beforehand.

When Might London Drivers Need a Check Code?

For many London motorists, the most common request will come from an employer or vehicle hire business.

A worker taking a role involving a company car, van or other vehicle may be asked to provide a code so the employer can confirm that the licence covers the required vehicle category and check relevant endorsements.

Car and van hire is another common situation. A company may want to confirm the driver’s record before releasing the vehicle, particularly where its own insurance or rental conditions require additional licence checks.

The code can also be useful when an organisation needs current information rather than a photocopy of a licence.

Since the Great Britain paper counterpart is no longer valid, the online DVLA record is the current source for information that used to appear on that document.

Drivers should generate a code only when there is a genuine reason to share their record.

They should know which organisation is requesting it and why. A legitimate checker needs the check code and part of the driving licence number, not the driver’s full GOV.UK login information.

If a check code has expired or has already been used, it cannot simply be reused.

The driver should generate another code through the official service. If a newly created code does not work, both parties should check that the code and the final eight characters of the licence number have been entered correctly.

GOV.UK also provides other routes where the online checking service cannot be used. A postal check can be made using form D888/1 with the driver’s involvement, although the official page currently states that a £5 fee applies to this postal option.

Drivers should also remember that Northern Ireland uses a separate licensing system operated by the Driver & Vehicle Agency.

NI licences still have a photocard and paper counterpart, although Northern Ireland drivers can also create an online check code. The nidirect service says its codes are valid for 21 days.

What Should Drivers Remember in 2026?

The key point is that a Great Britain photocard driving licence no longer has a valid paper counterpart.

For drivers in London and elsewhere in England, Scotland and Wales, current licence information is shared digitally through the DVLA system.

A DVLA counterpart check code is valid for 21 days and can be used once.

Drivers can create one through the official GOV.UK service when an employer, hire company or another authorised organisation needs to see their driving record.

Using the correct service can prevent delays when hiring a vehicle or completing employment checks. It also reduces the risk of handing unnecessary personal information to unofficial websites.

The old counterpart may still appear in searches and older guidance, but for Great Britain licences the digital record and a valid check code are what matter in 2026.