Driving Licence - How to find out if someones got one?

[stevieclj]

Bit of an interesting one in my head this one. Just found out that my dad received, or should have, a speeding ticket in Essex a couple of months ago. It was in my older brothers van, and must have been on his fleet insurance as they sent the usual yellow NIP out, which was filled in and returned.

It now sounds like the CPS and DVLA are compiling evidence against my dad as it seems they can't find any record of him obtaining a full licence. Now, apparently his deceased sister mentioned in the distant past that she didn't believe he had a licence, my mum can't recall seeing one either. I'm not getting involved in the situation as such as it doesn't really concern me, and I can't honestly remember the last time I spoke to my dad.

It sounds like he avoids any questioning about a licence and has buried his head regarding the CPS and DVLA issue. So my question is, are there any avenues or alternative companies that can tell us whether he has a full licence or not.

DVLA can't find a record of him having one at his current address.

[sprintmini]

There is no way of you finding out if a person has a drivers licence or not.
The DVLA will not divulge that info and the insurance companies do not check if you hold a license when applying for insurance.
So unless the police stop an individual and make roadside checks that person can drive for years without anyone finding out.
In fact wasn't there a case a few weeks back where someone admitted to driving for 40 years without a licence?


www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-24571342

[composimmonite]

How old is your dad ?
Mate, who died last year, told me due to the Suez crisis of 1956 learners were allowed to drive unaccompanied. He drove for quite a while until he decided to take a test and become "legal". So if your dad was 17 or older in 1956 he might have been one of those who simply carried on driving without taking a test and of course any provisional licence would have expired.

Paul H

[stevieclj]

He's 69 at the moment, born in 44.

Just seems strange it's taken 50 odd years to catch up with him. He does have quite a "shakey" hand, and it is totally possible that they've misread his driving license number, but surely they have multiple ways of finding if a person has a license.

1956, would make him 12 years old give or take the month. So, rules the Suez crisis out, but its something I never knew about.

[composimmonite]

My current, old style paper, licence was issued in 1979 (passed bike test in '74 and car test in '79). I refuse to have a photocard licence unless it's valid for the same period as my paper one plus is free ! Why pay for something when not needed and then have it expire after 10 years. Last week was the first time anyone has asked to check it and make a note of the number (I had to take a driving assessment before it was reinstated after suspension on health ground). That is 34 years so I can believe it'd be possible for somebody to go 50 years without having to present a licence as long as they "kept their nose clean".

Paul H

[Deleted]

It is likely that he doesn't have one as the DVLA can check by name alone so unless they have misspelt his name?
The other reason could be that he did have one and at some point the DVLA have written to him for some reason, maybe on medical grounds or he committed an offence and he didn't reply because he either ignored it or had moved house without informing DVLA they can then suspend the licence but the system should then show that he has an expired licence rather than no licence.

[dodgerover]

It is also possible to have passed your test sent off the pass slip and provisional and hear nothing back as its been lost getting there/ while there, I remember being told of this first hand by my instructor whilst learning. Also possible DVLA may have got a letter wrong in the license....