Driving licence check API
Check a UK driving licence from your own software with the driver's DVLA check code. The API returns vehicle categories, penalty points and endorsements as JSON, with a PDF of the DVLA record.
What is a DVLA check code?
A case sensitive code a driver creates at gov.uk/view-driving-licence so someone else can view their licence record. You use it with the last 8 characters of their licence number.
Is there a DVLA API for licence checks?
DVLA's Access to Driver Data (ADD) API is only for approved organisations and needs a signed declaration from each driver. There is no DVLA API for check codes. Check Share Code provides one.
What does a driving licence check show?
Licence status, the vehicle categories the driver can drive, penalty points, endorsement codes with dates, and any disqualifications.
How much does a driving licence check cost?
Checking a code by hand on gov.uk is free. Through the Check Share Code API it is £0.50 per successful check.
Driving licence check APIs compared
- Driver needs
- Check Share Code
- A check code
- Driver Codes
- Their app and a mandate
- VehicleMatic
- A check code
- CheckedSafe
- A DVLA mandate
- Per check
- Check Share Code
- £0.50
- Driver Codes
- £1 to £1.60
- VehicleMatic
- £1.10 to £1.50
- CheckedSafe
- £1.60
- Evidence PDF
- Check Share Code
- Yes
- Driver Codes
- Yes
- VehicleMatic
- No
- CheckedSafe
- No
- Right to work too
- Check Share Code
- Yes
- Driver Codes
- No
- VehicleMatic
- No
- CheckedSafe
- No
From each provider's website, 28 September 2026.