A DVLA check code is the one thing customers most often forget when they collect a van. Without it, we cannot confirm your licence details, and the hire has to wait. It takes a few minutes to create online. Yet it can hold up a whole morning if you leave it too late. This guide explains how the code works for van hire in Warrington and how to get it right first time.
Why We Ask for a DVLA Check Code
Your photocard shows your name, address and the vehicle categories you can drive. However, it does not show penalty points or any recent changes. The DVLA holds that information, and the check code lets us view it with your permission. So when you collect, we ask for both the photocard and the code.
The check matters because every van we hire out is a commercial vehicle. Before we hand over the keys, we need to know the licence is valid and covers the van. That protects you as well as us. If something on the record needs a chat, it is better to have it at the counter than at the roadside.
For most customers, the check takes a minute and raises nothing at all. We simply confirm the licence is in order. Still, we would rather know at the start of the hire. It means the paperwork is right, and nobody has an awkward call later in the day.
How to Create Your DVLA Check Code
You create the code on the government service to view or share your driving licence information. It asks for three things. First, the last eight characters of your driving licence number. Next, your National Insurance number. Finally, the postcode on your licence.
Once you are in, choose the option to share your licence information. The service then gives you a code to pass to us. Write it down, screenshot it or keep it open on your phone. In our experience, a screenshot is the safest option, because signal inside the shopping centre car park can drop.
When to Generate the DVLA Check Code
Timing is where most problems start. The code expires after a set period. So do not create it weeks ahead, or it may lapse before the hire. Equally, do not leave it until you are standing at our counter.
The best time is the evening before you collect, or the morning of the hire. That way the code is fresh, and you have time to sort out any login trouble. If the National Insurance number is the sticking point, find it before the day. It sits on payslips, P60s and some letters from HMRC.
If someone else is booking the van for you, the code still has to come from you. The service needs your own details, and only you can create a code for your licence. So if a partner or a colleague makes the booking, send them the code once you have it. Then they can pass it on when they confirm the hire.
Common Problems at the Counter
The most common problem is a postcode mismatch. If you have moved and not updated your licence, the service may not accept your current postcode. In that case, try the postcode printed on the licence itself. Then, after the hire, update your address with the DVLA, because driving on an out-of-date licence address can cause trouble.
Next, check the expiry date on the front of your photocard. Photocards need renewing every ten years, and an expired card can stop the hire. If yours is close to the date, renew it before you book.
Another problem is a code for the wrong person. If two people plan to drive, each driver needs their own code. Also, the DVLA service covers licences issued in Great Britain only. If your licence was issued in Northern Ireland or abroad, call us before you book. We can then explain what you need to bring instead.
Other Things to Bring When You Collect
Along with the DVLA check code, bring the photocard itself. A photo of it is not enough. Our van hire FAQs list the other documents. Meanwhile, our guide to licence, deposit and cover for first-time van hire explains each one in plain terms.
There is no deposit on most of our vehicles. Every van is 3.5 tonnes or under, so a standard car licence covers it. Unsure which size to choose? Read about what size van you can hire on a normal UK licence. For most house moves, the long wheelbase high roof van is a good middle ground.
Making Collection Quick at Cockhedge
Our depot sits on Tilley Street at the main entrance to Cockhedge Shopping Centre. We open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 4pm. When everything is ready, collection is quick. We check your photocard, run the DVLA check code and walk you round the van.
Free secure parking on site means you can leave your car with us. Customers drive in from all over the area, including Penketh, where our page on van hire Penketh covers the route. Wherever you start, bring your code ready and the hire can begin on time.
If anything on your licence needs explaining, ring us before the day rather than after. Call the depot on 01925 396 222 or use our contact us page. We will tell you exactly what to bring.
