All driving licences issued by Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) are now issued in a new format - a plastic photocard and a paper counterpart. Old format style licences are still valid and will be updated gradually as they are renewed and replaced.
Photocard licences
Photocard licences were introduced as a result of an EU directive requiring all member states to issue driving licences in a card format which contains the licence holder's image and signature.
There are many benefits that photocard driving licences offer, including:
- allowing member state licence holders freedom to move around many European countries
- a more secure format which reduces the opportunity for misrepresentation
- making sure that the person getting a provisional licence, taking the test and getting a full driving licence is one and the same
- a cut in impersonation at driving tests
- making sure that the person getting the licence is old enough to do so
- minimising the chances of a person holding more than one licence, either by accident or design
Front of the licence
Full
Provisional
Your personal details (1, 2 and 3)
Fields 1, 2 and 3 of your photocard licence record your surname, first names, date and place of birth.
Date of licence issue (4a), expiry (4b),issuing authority (4)
The date shown in 4a is the date the photocard was issued. 4b shows the date the driving licence expires. The authority that issued the licence is shown in 4c. In Northern Ireland this is DVA.
Driver number (5)
Your unique eight digit NI driver number.
Holder’s photograph (6 – not numbered)
The new photocard licence has a black and white photo. This is because the laser technology used to burn the image onto the card producing a black and white photo is more secure. You will still need to give a colour photo with your application to be stored on your driver record.
Holder’s signature (7)
This is digitally reproduced and burned into the photocard from the signature you gave on the application form.
Holder’s address (8)
This shows yourpermanent address in Northern Ireland.
Entitlement categories (9)
The letters in capitals show the categories of entitlement covered by the European Community Directive. National categories are shown in smaller letters.
Back of the licence
Full
Provisional
Pictogram entitlement categories (9)
These pictures are representations of types of vehicles in those categories shown. Further information on the vehicles you are entitled to drive
Valid from (10)
The earliest date from which a driving category is valid from.
Valid to (11)
The date until which a driving category is valid to.
Information codes/ restrictions (12)
The code numbers printed in this area show what, if any, restrictions there are.To see what these mean, go to:
Not used (13)
Other security features
The driving licence also has tactile (raised) surfaces, tactile engraved text, changing colours, as well as complex background designs.
Previously issued NI photocard driving licence
Photocard driving licences have been issued since 1 April 1999.
All licence types stay valid until their date of expiry shown at section 4b.
Differences between NI and GB licences
Changes made to the format of the Great Britain driving licences on 8 June 2015 have no affect on licences from the Driver &Vehicle Agency (DVA) in NI.
NI licences are still made up of two parts, a plastic photocard and paper part which is known as the paper counterpart.
More useful links
FAQs
The first and last numbers are your year of birth. Inside these numbers are your birth month followed by your birth day. If you were assigned female at birth, the first number of your birth month goes up by 5.
What is the format for California ID numbers? ›
California driver's license numbers consist of one letter and seven numbers. For example, A0002144. Colorado driver's license numbers are nine numbers formatted as ##-###-####. For example, 94-33-0101.
What is a GB driver number? ›
Great Britain
Each licence holder in England, Scotland and Wales has a unique driver number, which is 18 characters long. The characters are constructed in the following way: 1–5: The first five characters of the surname (padded with 9s if fewer than 5 characters).
What is on the back of a California driver license? ›
FEATURES ON BACK OF CARD The back of the card contains 1D and 2D bar codes, the cardholder's license class, endorsem*nts, and restrictions. The cardholder's signature and date of birth are also on the back.
What does it mean when your license starts with Y? ›
The thing that typically matters is the code. or the restriction that's placed on the license. In Georgia, a Y restriction means hearing impaired, meaning they need a hearing aid to hear. And Florida, Y restriction is educational purposes only. So it's like a learners permit.
Which is an indicator of a false ID? ›
Feel the identification to check the card's rigidity, a fake ID will often have different weight and/or thickness of a real ID. Check the identification card's edges, the edges should be smooth and rounded around the entire card. Lifted corners may be a sign of a fake ID.
How are driver license numbers created California? ›
The letter is assigned randomly and does not convey any information about the driver or their license status. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) assigns driver's license numbers in series. Each series represents a range of license numbers that were issued during a specific time period.
How many digits should an ID number have? ›
A South African ID number is a 13-digit number which is defined by the following format: YYMMDDSSSSCAZ. The first 6 digits (YYMMDD) are based on your date of birth.
Are California ID and driver's license number the same? ›
Is the state ID number the same as the state driver's license number in California? Yes, it is.
Where is my photocard number? ›
How can I find out my driving licence number? Your driving licence number is point 5 on the front of your photocard licence and is 16 characters long.
Driver code means code containing a "main" function that will be compiled into an executable you can run. Typically for a program called "myappname" the main function appears in a file called "myappname.cc".
What is the driver number 4d? ›
Where can I find the driver number on a driving licence? This is a 9 digit number that appears in field 5 of your paper driving licence or field 4d on your plastic card driving licence and this number remains with you throughout your driving history.
What does DD mean on California driver's license? ›
It's an abbreviation for “Document Discriminator,” a piece of information that several states started adding to their driver's licenses. The DD is a security code that identifies where and when the license was issued. It uniquely identifies each card that was issued to a given individual.
What does the new California driver's license look like? ›
A California issued REAL ID driver's license or identification card meets these new requirements and is marked with a golden bear and star. Applying for a REAL ID requires proof of identity, proof of California residency, and a trip to DMV.
What does the strip on CA drivers license read? ›
The magnetic stripe on a driver's license typically contains encoded information such as the license holder's name, date of birth, license number, and other relevant details.
What is the format of the Wisconsin driver's license number? ›
Wisconsin's licenses and ID cards contain document numbers (circled) that are fourteen characters- one letter followed by thirteen numbers.
What do the numbers mean on Texas drivers license? ›
A Texas driver's license audit number is the 20-digit number at the bottom of your driver's license says online defensive driving course provider Comedy Driving. Texas audit numbers or the DD number at the bottom of your Texas driver's license is unique to each driver's license you receive in the mail.
What does the letter Y mean on a Michigan license plate? ›
Current law allows for certain nonprofit organizations to be eligible for the state "Y'' license plate (nonprofit organization license plate).
