| Driver licence history checks |
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This process is appropriate at the recruitment stage and at regular periods throughout a driver’s employment. There are two forms available, one for a ‘one-off’ enquiry D795, which is valid for 3 months and a D796, which is valid for 3 years and more appropriate for on-going periodic checks. Examples highlighted by this check include a young lady who had no less than 5 licences – the one she showed her prospective employer was clean, but she was actually disqualified from driving. This came to light when the police arrested her off her bus whilst in service. Another was an ex-traffic police sergeant who knew that if he applied for a duplicate licence within 6 weeks of his ban for drunk driving he would receive a clean licence back. This came to light on a subsequent licence check when he did produce his original – always be very suspicious of ‘duplicate’ licences. The address to write to is:- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Useful links |
Although many Companies now carry out regular driver licence checks, this is a pointless exercise if there is no way of knowing this is the driver’s current valid licence. DVLA operate a fee paying enquiry service whereby the driver signs a mandate authorising DVLA at Swansea to release the information. The current cost is £5 per enquiry and an account can be set up (minimum £50 for 10 enquiries) which allows the mandate to be faxed direct to them. The result is posted back, usually by within 10 days.