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  3. Driver licensing

Car hire in Northern Ireland or abroad

This page gives details of what is needed when hiring a car in Northern Ireland or abroad.

Car hire

When hiring a car in Northern Ireland or abroad you will be asked to give evidence that you are a licence holder and the vehicles that you are covered to drive.

The Northern Ireland driving licence is made up of two parts and you can give evidence of your driving entitlement by showing both the plastic photocard licence and the paper counterpart. Both parts make up your driving licence and they will give evidence of:

  •  your driving licence number
  •  the types of vehicles you can drive
  •  any penalty points or disqualifications you may have

If a car hire company asks you for a ‘check-code’ or you need to give evidence of your driving entitlement you can go to the page below to view your own driving record or create a code to share your driving record.

  • view or share your driving licence information

If you have lost the paper part of your driving licence you will need to apply for a new driving licence. If there are no changes to your licence you can apply for a duplicate.

  • replace your driving licence online

If you need to give evidence of your driving entitlement urgently you can apply for a ‘Certificate of Entitlement (CoE)’. This will give a summary of your driving entitlement.

To get a CoE you should phone or to write to the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) and include these details:

  • your driver number
  • your date of birth
  •  the postal or email address you want the ‘Certificate of Entitlement’ sent to

Post this letter along with a cheque (made out to the Driver & Vehicle Agency) or postal order for £7.50 to the DVA.

Visit Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing  for the DVA’s address and phone number.

If you have any further queries contact the DVA.

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Driver licensing

  • Apply for a Northern Ireland driving licence
  • Buses, lorries, trailers and caravans
  • Car hire in Northern Ireland or abroad
  • Check someone’s driving licence information
  • Driving in NI on a foreign licence
  • Driving in the EU and EEA post Brexit
  • Driving outside Northern Ireland
  • Endorsements and disqualifications
  • Information on vehicles you can drive
  • Medical conditions and driving
  • Telling DVA about a bereavement
  • View or share your driving licence information

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Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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