When did I pass my driving test?
How to find out the exact date you passed, and why you might need to know.
The feeling of peeling the L plates off your car could be etched in your mind forever. Or you may struggle to place the moment in a particular year. But the date you passed your driving test could be something you need to know, such as when you get a quote for your car insurance.
How do I find the date I passed my driving test?
Luckily, there’s not too much detective work to do. You’ll find the date printed on the back of your driving licence photocard. It appears in column 10, beside each of the categories of vehicle that your licence covers you to drive.
Why might insurers need to know when I passed my driving test?
How long you've been driving can help paint a picture of how much of a risk you seem. This, in turn, might have a bearing on the price you’re quoted. For instance, someone who's held a full licence for 10 years without making a claim may be seen as a lower risk than someone of exactly the same age who's only recently passed their test.
For similar reasons, car hire companies might ask you this too.
Will Aviva ask me when I got my driving licence?
We'll ask for your driving licence number when you apply for our Aviva Signature car insurance. If you don’t have this to hand, you can instead let us know the type of driving licence you have, how long you’ve held it, and details of motoring convictions or fixed penalties in the last 5 years.
To tell us how long you’ve had it, you’ll pick from options ranging from less than one year through to nine years or more, so you won't necessarily need the exact date.
What do the dates on my driving licence mean?
The day you passed your test is one of a few main dates on your driving licence. On the front, to the right of your photo, you’ll see your:
- date of birth (section 3)
- licence issue date (section 4a)
- licence expiry date (section 4b).
On the reverse, you’ll see more sets of dates, shown in pairs in a table of vehicle categories. These are:
- the earliest date from which you were allowed to drive that vehicle type – in other words, when you passed your test for that category (column 10)
- the date when your licence for that vehicle type expires (column 11).
When did I get my provisional licence?
The earliest you can apply for your provisional licence is at the age of 15 years and 9 months, but it’s only valid from the day you turn 16 – and that’s for driving moped grades and light quad bikes. It can only be used for driving practice in a standard car from the age of 17. If you currently hold a provisional licence, the exact date you got it will appear on the front in section 4a.
When does my provisional licence expire?
Like a full licence, your provisional licence expires 10 years after the date it was issued. So, if you have a provisional licence now, the expiry date will be shown on the front of your photocard in section 4b.
Once you pass your driving test, your provisional licence will upgrade to a full licence. This usually happens without you having to do more than hand your provisional photocard licence over to your examiner after your test. They’ll give you a driving test pass certificate and arrange for the DVLA to send you your full licence.
How do I check my driving licence information?
As well as looking at the photo card itself, the government’s website also lets you check your driving licence online. To log in, you’ll need your driving licence number (shown in section 5 on the front of your photocard), your national insurance number and the postcode on your licence.
You'll be able to see:
- your full name, gender, date of birth and current address
- the type of licence you have
- the categories of vehicle your licence allows you to drive
- any penalty points or disqualifications
- a check code with anyone who needs to confirm your licence details.
What if I’ve lost my driving licence?
The simplest way to get a new one is to visit the government’s website and order a replacement licence online. This service is for residents of England, Scotland and Wales, and costs £20.
There’s a different system to replace a driving licence issued in Northern Ireland.
