The importance and relevance of important personal documents appear to be misunderstood in the modern digital age.

Whether it be physical passports or driving licences, the younger generations seem increasingly unaware of what these documents represent, what they mean and why it is essential to understand and care for them.

Name and number

A new survey by temporary car insurance provider Tempcover has found widespread confusion among UK drivers over one of the most fundamental features of their driving licence: the licence number.

According to the study, 40% of drivers don’t know where to find their driving licence number, despite it appearing prominently on the front of every photocard licence.

Even more concerning, 81% of respondents failed to correctly identify all legitimate uses of the licence number, while 83% couldn’t name all the valid reasons a business or service might request it.

These findings expose a significant knowledge gap at a time when driving licence numbers are playing an increasingly important role in digital verification and insurance pricing.

Claire Wills-McKissick, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said:

“Your driving licence number is more than just an ID – it provides insurers and other services with access to crucial details about your driving history. This helps ensure pricing is based on individual records rather than generic risk profiles. But the data shows many people don’t realise how essential this information has become.”

Digital identity anchor

A driving licence number, which begins with the first five letters of a person’s surname, is used to:

  • Identify drivers in the DVLA’s system

  • Confirm the categories of vehicles a person is legally allowed to operate

  • Access digital driving licence information online

  • Share a driving record with employers, insurers, and rental firms

  • It is also a highly useful identity document when requested

Despite this, many UK drivers remain misinformed.

More than a quarter (27%) of those surveyed mistakenly believed the number was needed to register a new vehicle, and 10% thought it was required to pay congestion or toll charges — neither of which are true.

Understanding how your licence is used is especially important in today’s data-driven insurance sector.

Insurers now routinely use licence numbers to confirm penalty points, check for previous disqualifications, and verify claims histories — all of which are crucial to pricing policies fairly and preventing fraud.

Business opportunity 

A business might request a driving licence number to:

  • Ensure a person is licensed to drive specific types of vehicles

  • Confirm driving history, including points or convictions

  • Verify identity for a driving-related role

  • Authorise vehicle hire

  • Calculate insurance premiums based on driving history

Yet, 83% of respondents couldn’t correctly identify all these reasons.

Nearly four in ten (37%) wrongly assumed it would be used for general background checks, while 24% mistakenly believed it could be used to prove vehicle ownership.

More than just a right to drive

The importance of the driving licence — and the number on it — has only increased over time.

As of 2024, there are over 51 million full and provisional driving licence holders in Great Britain, according to DVLA data.

That’s a sharp rise from around 36 million in 2004 and 23 million in 1984, reflecting how integral driving has become to modern life.

Beyond driving itself, a licence often serves as a primary form of identification for job applications, car rentals, insurance, and financial services.

It’s also frequently required for proof of age or address in various transactions, including bank account registrations and rental agreements.

Claire Wills-McKissick adds:

“It’s not just about driving anymore. Your licence – and your licence number – is increasingly a key part of your digital and financial identity. We encourage all drivers to understand its uses and keep it secure.”

With over half the population holding a driving licence, and with its role expanding beyond just being a permit to drive, ensuring awareness of how to use and protect this key number is more important than ever.