Does your driver number ever change??

[Guest]

I've just noticed that my driver number on my CBT, Mod 1 and Mod 2 pass certificates, although all exactly the same, are different to what I thought my number was. Out of the last 5 characters, only the first and third are the same as they were before. This is troubling me slightly.

I had to renew my photocard earlier this year as it had expired.

I'm assuming that each time it would have been written down, it would have been copied directly from my driving license. In fact, I'm certain I remember it being done so each time. I'm just slightly paranoid that if the CBT had the wrong number and subsequent certificates were filled out by copying the number on that, then they would all be wrong, possibly making all my passes void. I'm confident that the number was copied exactly, but I just didn't notice it had changed and of course my license is with the DVLA being updated, so I can't check. Any thoughts on this?

[Guest]

I've looked at the leaflet explaining your driving license and I think I've found an explanation.

My old driver number started with 2 letters. The first one is your first initial and the second one is your second initial, if you have a second name. The driver number that appears on all my certificates starts with a letter and is followed by a NUMBER. Looking at the explanation, a random number is generated if you don't have any middle initials.

I can only assume that when I updated my photocard earlier this year, I didn't put my middle name down on it this time, which is why my driver number is different. Obviously I will have to check it when it arrives, but I can't see the number being written down so differently to what it should be/was before. The examiners are very strict with paperwork and if there had been a discrepancy with my CBT certificate to start off with, I'm sure they wouldn't have let me proceed with the Mod 1 and Mod 2.

I think I can relax a bit now...