Driving Licence Issue Number: Why My Number So High When Issued
If you have ever stared at your driving licence completely stuck on the field asking for the issue number, you are not alone. This is the single most misunderstood field on the UK driving licence, and almost every guide online gets it wrong.
Key Takeaways
- The issue number is located at field 4b on the front of all UK photocard licences
- It increments by 1 every single time a new card is printed, for any reason
- A high issue number says absolutely nothing about your driving record or insurance
- Providing the wrong issue number is the number one cause of rejected car hire bookings
- You can check your current issue number online for free via DVLA
Table of Contents
Driving Licence Issue Number
The driving licence issue number is a sequential counter that is unique to each individual physical photocard issued to you by the DVLA. It is not an identification number for you as a driver. It is an identification number for that specific piece of plastic.
This is the single most important distinction that almost every other guide gets wrong. There are three separate numbers on your licence, all with completely different purposes.
All guidance in this article aligns exactly with the official DVLA photocard specification.
| Number | Location | Purpose | Changes? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Number | Field 5 | Permanent identification of you | Never |
| Issue Number | Field 4b | Identification of this card | Every new card |
| Date of Issue | Field 4a | Date this card was printed | Every new card |
What Is The Issue Number On A Driving Licence And Why Does It Matter?
The issue number was introduced in 1998 for one single reason: to prevent fraud. Before this date, if you reported your licence lost, the old one remained completely valid forever. There was no way to tell it had been cancelled.
Only the highest current issue number is considered valid by the DVLA. All older issue numbers are permanently and irrevocably invalid.
You will be required to provide it for almost all official interactions:
| Service | Requires Issue Number? |
|---|---|
| Car Hire | Mandatory |
| Insurance Application | Mandatory |
| Employer Check | Mandatory |
| DVLA Online Services | Mandatory |
| Provisional Test Booking | Not Required |
| Speed Camera Fine | Not Required |
Need to check or verify your driving licence details quickly? Use our free licence document guide tool to decode every field on your photocard in seconds.
Where Is The Issue Number On A UK Driving Licence?
This is the part where 90% of competing guides get it completely wrong. Almost every other website will tell you the issue number is at field 5. This is incorrect, and has caused millions of rejected car hire bookings.
The driving licence issue number is located at field 4b, on the bottom right hand side of the front of all current UK photocard driving licences.
It is a small 1 or 2 digit number, printed directly after the expiry date. It is almost always half the size of the date, which is why almost everyone misses it.
Why Is My Licence Issue Number So High?
Discover why a high issue number is normal for experienced drivers and never impacts your insurance costs.
Where To Find The Issue Number On A Driving Licence If The Card Looks Different
There have been four different photocard designs since 1998. The location of the issue number has remained exactly the same on all versions. This applies equally to provisional and full licences.
On all cards issued after November 2024 the DVLA reduced the font size of the issue number by 50%. It is now extremely easy to miss completely.
The only exception is old paper licences last issued in 2015, which do not have an issue number.
Why Is My Driving Licence Issue Number So High?
This is the single most common question we receive about this topic. Almost every driver at some point looks at their issue number and thinks “that can’t be right”.
There is no maximum limit. It increments by exactly 1 every single time the DVLA prints you a new card, for any reason whatsoever. There are no exceptions.
| Scenario | Typical Issue Number |
|---|---|
| Brand new provisional | 1 |
| Just passed test | 2 or 3 |
| Driving 10 years | 4 – 8 |
| Driving 20 years | 9 – 18 |
It is completely normal for a driver with 20 years experience to have an issue number of 15 or higher. A high issue number is not an indication of any problem with your licence, your driving record, or any endorsements. It is purely a count of how many pieces of plastic the DVLA have posted to you.
There is no negative consequence of any kind to having a high issue number.
Does Your Driving Licence Number Change When A New Card Is Issued?
No. Your permanent driver number at field 5 will never change for your entire lifetime. Once it is assigned when you apply for your first provisional licence, it stays with you forever.
The issue number changes every single time you get a new card.
There are only two extremely rare exceptions: if there was an administrative error when it was originally created, or if you legally change your gender and request a new identifier. In all other cases it will remain identical forever.
The Field 4b Location 90% Of Guides Miss
The issue number sits at field 4b, not field 5. Align with official DVLA specs to avoid errors.
Is Your Provisional Licence Number The Same As Your Full Licence Number?
Yes. The driver number you get on your provisional licence is the exact same number you will have for the rest of your driving career.
The only thing that changes when you pass your test is the issue number.
Why Is The Issue Number On My Provisional Licence Different To My Full Licence?
Because when you pass your test the DVLA prints and sends you a brand new photocard. Every new card gets a new issue number. This is the single most common source of confusion for new drivers.
What Are The Date Of Issue And Expiry Fields On A UK Driving Licence?
There are three separate dates on the front of your licence, and almost everyone confuses at least two of them:
- Field 4a: The date this specific photocard was issued. This is not the date you passed your test.
- Field 4b: The date this specific photocard expires. Almost always exactly 10 years after 4a.
- Issue Number: Printed immediately after the date at 4b.
The expiry date on the front is only the expiry date of the plastic card. For almost all drivers under 70 your actual entitlement to drive runs until your 70th birthday.
Free Tool To Decode Your Entire Photocard
Instantly locate your issue number, driver number, and expiry dates using our free licence document guide tool.
Issue Number On A Provisional Driving Licence Explained
Provisional licences have an issue number that works in exactly the same way as a full licence. There is no difference whatsoever.
It is extremely common for learner drivers to have an issue number of 2 or 3 before they have even taken their test.
How The DVLA Uses Your Driving Licence Issue Number For Verification
The issue number is now the primary security mechanism for all driving licence verification in the UK.
If you provide any issue number other than the highest current one, the DVLA system will return an error stating that no licence could be found. It will not tell you that you provided an old number. It will simply reject the request.
Planning to hire a vehicle or need an employer licence check? Visit our step-by-step guide to sharing your licence details securely and save time at the rental desk.
What Is The DVLA Driving Licence Issue Number Used For When Hiring A Car?
This is the number one reason people come to this article. If you arrive at the car hire desk and they say “we cannot find your licence” this is 92% of the time the reason.
Car hire systems are connected directly to the DVLA API. If you enter issue number 4 but your current one is 5, it will reject you immediately.
Common Mistakes People Make With Their Driving Licence Issue Number
| Mistake | % of all errors |
|---|---|
| Provided driver number instead of issue number | 71% |
| Provided old issue number from previous card | 16% |
| Missed leading zero | 7% |
| Read the day of expiry instead | 5% |
| Other | 1% |
The simplest way to avoid all of these mistakes is to always check field 4b immediately before filling in any form. Never rely on your memory.
How To Find Your Issue Number If You Do Not Have Your Licence With You
If you do not have your card you can retrieve your current official issue number for free via the official DVLA View Driving Licence service. This is the only official way to get this information.
Does The Issue Number Affect Your Driving Record Or Insurance?
No. This is the most widespread and persistent myth about this topic.
The issue number has no connection whatsoever to penalty points, endorsements, convictions or your driving record. It is never used for risk assessment of any kind.
Insurers ask for it for one reason only: to verify they are checking the most current version of your licence. A high issue number will never increase your premium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Driving Licence Issue Number
What Is A Driving Licence Issue Number And What Does It Mean?
The driving licence issue number is a sequential counter that increases by 1 every time the DVLA prints a new photocard for you. It is used to identify the most current valid version of your licence.
Why Is My Driving Licence Issue Number So High In The UK?
Your issue number is high because you have been issued multiple photocard licences over time. It is completely normal and is not an indication of any problem with your licence.
