Insurance company asking for driving licence Number

black_hawk84

I have been driving for over 5 years and none of the insurance companies ever asked for driving licence details. It sounds bit strange that upon renewal the company I have cheapest insurance quote is now asking for driving licence number on very last page. 

My question is whether its legal for them to demand driving licence number when they already have records from DVLA? Is it not breach of any law or rights we hold?

Thanks

Car_54

1. No it's not illegal. Some companies ask, other don't.

2. Why do you think they have records from DVLA? How would they get those without your driver number?

daveyjp

Some ask, I have never seen it demanded.

AdrianC

Is there a problem in giving it? It's not exactly a state secret, and all it's going to do is confirm what you've already told them... right?

They really should all be asking - and, no, they don't all demand it, any insurer could legitimately refuse to quote (or increase the quote) for a potential customer who didn't want to give it.

Given they know your full name and date of birth, they could even have a reasonable stab at guessing your licence number - but there may be somebody else sharing those basic details. GB driver numbers are 16 digits, in a very specific format.

• 1–5: The first five characters of the surname (padded with 9s if fewer than 5 characters). For surnames beginning with "MAC", they are treated as "MC" for all.
• 6: The decade digit from the year of birth (e.g. for 1987 it would be 8)
• 7–8: The month of birth in two digit format (7th character is incremented by 5 if the driver is female i.e. 51–62 instead of 01–12)
• 9–10: The date within the month of birth in two digit format (i.e. 01-31)
• 11: The year digit from the year of birth (e.g. for 1987 it would be 7)
• 12–13: The first two initials of the first names, padded with a 9 if no middle name
• 14: Arbitrary digit – usually 9, but decremented to differentiate drivers with the first 13 characters in common
• 15–16: Two computer check digits.

So to take an example at random, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, male, DoB 19/06/1964, would probably have a driver number of JOHNS 606194 AB9xx - unless there's another man with the name AB Johns(...) with that DoB. While DVLA refuse to issue the check-digit algorithm, it wouldn't be hard to back-calculate from enough examples.

Scrapit

black_hawk84 said:

I have been driving for over 5 years and none of the insurance companies ever asked for driving licence details. It sounds bit strange that upon renewal the company I have cheapest insurance quote is now asking for driving licence number on very last page. 

My question is whether its legal for them to demand driving licence number when they already have records from DVLA? Is it not breach of any law or rights we hold?

Thanks

What law do you think they are breaking? In what way is asking for this info even slightly nefarious? What a stupid question.

George_Michael

black_hawk84 said:

My question is whether its legal for them to demand driving licence number when they already have records from DVLA? Is it not breach of any law or rights we hold?

It's perfectly legal for them to ask you to provide your driving licence details and it's just as legal for you to decline to provide them with the information.
However, do this and they can decline your custom and decide not to give a quote.

marlot

black_hawk84 said:

I have been driving for over 5 years and none of the insurance companies ever asked for driving licence details. It sounds bit strange that upon renewal the company I have cheapest insurance quote is now asking for driving licence number on very last page....

Many insurance companies ask to see a copy of your driving licence and/or V5 when you take out insurance.  I don't see the problem with them asking for the driving licence number.

Herzlos

They have enough information to identify your and your driving history, your license number allows them to confirm it and avoids the risk of them confusing you with someone else. There's no reason for you not to withhold it unless there's something on there you don't want them knowing.

giraffe69

Sounds like someone who wants to avoid declaring points earned to make the premium cheaper!

Hasbeen

The last insurer I went with asked for the check code. 

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

I downloaded and sent it to insurer. If you do not want to send to insurer then cancel and try elsewhere.

Mercdriver

Herzlos said:

They have enough information to identify your and your driving history, your license number allows them to confirm it and avoids the risk of them confusing you with someone else. There's no reason for you not to withhold it unless there's something on there you don't want them knowing.

I don't think that double negative was intentional