Before you pick up your van from Hirus, there is one thing you need to sort out in advance: your DVLA check code. It takes a couple of minutes to generate and you can do it from your phone. Here is everything you need to know.
Why do we need it?
We need to verify your driving licence before every hire. Rather than asking you to hand over your licence for us to copy or photograph, the DVLA provides a system that lets you share a summary of your licence details with us directly and securely.
The check code gives us a short-term view of your record, including your licence categories and any penalty points. Our insurance requires us to check this for every driver, so we cannot skip it.
What you will need
Get these three things ready before you go to the government website:
- Your driving licence number (on the front of your photocard, starting with the first five letters of your surname)
- Your National Insurance number
- The postcode registered on your driving licence
The postcode needs to match what the DVLA has on file. If you have moved recently and not updated your licence details, use your old postcode rather than your current address.
Generating the code
Go to www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and follow the steps below.
- Enter your driving licence number, National Insurance number and postcode.
- The site will show you a summary of your driving record.
- Select the option to share your licence information.
- A check code will be generated. It will look something like a short string of letters and numbers.
- Note it down or screenshot it. The code is valid for 21 days.
When you arrive at either of our depots in Watford or Hemel Hempstead, hand the code and your photocard licence to a member of staff and we will take it from there.
A couple of things worth knowing
The code expires after 21 days, so there is no need to generate it weeks ahead of time. A day or two before your hire date is fine.
If the website will not accept your details, the most likely cause is the postcode. Try the postcode from your previous address if you have moved and not yet updated your licence record with the DVLA.
Hiring with a non-UK licence?
The check code system only works for UK driving licences. If you hold a licence issued in another country, please get in touch with us before your hire date so we can let you know what you will need to bring. You can reach our Watford team on 01923 245354.
Any other questions before you collect? Give us a call or take a look at the rest of our guides.