Linking your driving licence user guide

This guide from the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) has instructions to help you link your driving licence to your nidirect account.

Link your driving licence error message

If you are trying to link your driving licence and you get the message on the image below, you have two choices to allow you to link your driving licence.

Link my driving licence error screen says review and correct the following errors: The details held on your driving licence don't match your personal information held on nidirect. What do I need to do next? Enter your Northern Ireland driving licence number. Your surname, postcode and date of birth held on nidirect must match the details held on your driving licence for this match to be successful. Shows the field to enter your driving licence number. It is a required field.

Your full name, address including post code and date of birth held on nidirect must match the details held on your driving licence for this match to be successful.

You need to make sure all spelling and punctuation marks such as apostrophes match your driving licence.

If your details on your existing driving licence are not right, you must fill in and return a driving licence application form (DL1) together with the right identity documents.

DL1 application forms and guidance notes are available from main Post Office Branches. You can also see the guidance notes online at:

Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes

If your details are right on your driving licence, then you will need to update your nidirect details at the link below:

Identity assurance - manage your account

Once your details match you will be able to link your driving licence.

The images of the screens below will help you with linking your driving licence.

Linking your driving licence

You need to sign into the DVA licensing portal before you can link your driving licence.

To sign in, you first need to choose the driving licence service you want to use. You can search nidirect to find the application and when you click on the green button you will be directed to sign in.

Once signed into the DVA licensing portal, choose “Licences” from the top banner and then “Link my Driving Licence”.

Screen for linking your driving licence with 6 green buttons in the middle of the screen and the first on the left is called 'Link my Driving Licence'

You will enter your driver number and choose “Link”.

Link my driving licence screen asking you to enter your driving licence number

A message will appear telling you that your driving licence has been successfully linked to your nidirect account.

Confirmation message telling you your driving licence has been linked to your account

Viewing your licences

You can choose “Licences” and the licence page appears. These details should match the details on your driving licence.

Choose the “View” button and your driver details page will be displayed.

This will allow you to view your driver details, entitlements, endorsements and create a check code.

Licence details screen after linking licences showing your driver details

What to do next

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.

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 your GRONI account, 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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Linking your driving licence user guide

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What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment

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Select a language

Linking your driving licence user guide

Link your driving licence error message

Linking your driving licence

Viewing your licences

More useful links

Help improve this page - send your feedback

Messages

What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment