🔎 Understanding Your UK Driving License Number: What It Means & Where to Find It

UK driving license number is one of the most important pieces of information on your driving licence, yet many drivers don’t fully understand what it means or how it’s structured. Whether you’re filling out official documents, applying for car insurance, or verifying your identity online, your UK driving license number is used as a personal identifier—just like your National Insurance number or passport number.

In this blog post, we’ll break down what the UK driving license number is, how to find it, what each part means, and where you might need to use it.

🆔 What Is a UK Driving License Number?

Your UK driving license number is a unique 16-character identifier found on your photocard driving licence. It’s used by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) to track your driving record, including licence status, penalty points, entitlements, and endorsements.

This number isn’t random—it’s actually a code that contains information about you, including parts of your name and date of birth.

You can find your driving license number on the front of your photocard licence, next to section 5.

Example: MORGA657054SM9IJ

Let’s break that down.

🧬 What Does the UK Driving License Number Mean?

Believe it or not, your UK driving license number is more than just a random set of letters and digits. It follows a specific pattern:

Example Licence Number: MORGA657054SM9IJ

Let’s decode it:

1. MORGA – The first five letters of your surname (padded with 9s if shorter).
2. 65 – The decade digit of your year of birth (in this case, 1965).
3. 70 – The month of birth. If you’re female, 50 is added to the number, so 70 means July (20 + 50). For men, this would be 20.
4. 54 – The day of birth.
5. SM – The initials of your forenames (first and middle names).
6. 9IJ – A computer-generated code to ensure uniqueness.

So this number tells us:

• The person’s surname starts with “Morgan”
• Born on July 4th, 1965
• First and middle initials are S and M
• The final characters are for DVLA use only

🔍 Where to Find Your UK Driving License Number

You can find your UK driving license number:

• On the front of your photocard licence, under section 5
• On your driving record via the DVLA View Your Licence service
• On certain official documents related to your driving entitlements or penalties

If you’ve lost your licence, you can retrieve your license number by contacting DVLA or logging in to your online driving record with your National Insurance number and other details.

📄 Why Is the UK Driving License Number Important?

Your UK driving license number is used in many important situations, including:

✅ Applying for Car Insurance

Most insurers ask for your license number to:

• Verify your driving history
• Check for penalty points or disqualifications
• Confirm the type of licence you hold

✅ Hiring a Car (UK or Abroad)

Car rental companies use your licence number to check:

• Whether your licence is valid
• If you’ve had recent driving offences

✅ Proving Your Identity

Many organisations—such as employers, universities, and financial institutions—use your driving licence number for identity verification.

✅ Booking or Taking a Driving Test

If you’re learning to drive or taking additional licence tests (like for motorcycles or HGVs), your driving license number is required to:

• Book your theory or practical test
• Access your test results

🔁 What If My Details Change?

Your driving license number may change slightly if you change your name, but it will still be linked to your original driving record.

If you:

• Get married or legally change your name
• Correct a name spelling error
• Add or remove a middle name

…you must inform the DVLA and apply for a new photocard licence. This will update your license number accordingly.

If your address changes, the number stays the same, but you still need to notify DVLA and get an updated licence.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🔸 Can I drive if I don’t know my licence number?

If you’ve lost your physical licence but still know your number and your licence is valid, you may still be able to drive. However, it’s best to replace a lost licence as soon as possible.

🔸 Is my UK driving license number the same as my driver number?

Yes! The “driver number” and “driving licence number” are the same thing on a UK photocard.

🔸 Can two people have the same driving licence number?

No—each UK driving licence number is unique to the individual, even if people have similar names or birthdates.

🧾 Summary: Key Takeaways

• Your UK driving license number is a 16-character identifier used by the DVLA.
• It’s made up of parts of your name and date of birth, along with a unique code.
• It’s used for driving records, identity checks, car insurance, and licence verification.
• You can find it on your licence or view it online using GOV.UK services.
• Keep it safe and updated, especially if your name or address changes.

🛣️ Final Thoughts

Understanding your UK driving license number isn’t just a fun bit of trivia—it’s essential for staying compliant, getting insured, and proving your right to drive. Whether you’re a new driver or have held your licence for years, keeping your licence and its number secure, accurate, and accessible is a smart move.

Need help checking your driving record or replacing a lost licence? Visit gov.uk/view-driving-licence and log in securely to manage everything in one place.