Counterpart driving licence,

[Avulon]

Just found out that the counterpart driving licence is to the same way as the tax disc. Details that would have been on it are already available online!

So what? You say. Well to access these details requires only three things...
Licence number, and we all know how to construct that,
National insurance number, no secret
Postcode, easily guessed if not already known and no secret.

So now anyone with your name, address date of birth and NI number can check out not only your driving entitlements, but also your driving convictions and medical restrictions. Nice one .gov.

I wonder that the ICO are allowing this.

[Jay]

Thank God.
I get feed up loosing those green counterparts and end up having to pay about £30 for a copy every time I need to take it in somewhere!

[MrDoodles]

ID Cards, by the back door!

[Vossy]

The ICO are not independent so have to tow the gov line, if it was a private company then maybe it would be different - however saying that, give the gov (any gov) a couple of years and my guessing it will be the private sector taking on the work of DVLA, they will need much more money than they care to admit to throw at white elephant projects such as HS2, after all us plebs need just such a thing.

[Avulon]

Well, I've put the question to the DVLA asking how they justify the release of PPI without adequate security or controls (especially medical information) and await their answer. I used a form letter from the ICO site, so I think they'll have no choice but to respond. When they do I can then escalate it to the ICO.

[milleplod]

Originally Posted by Avulon

Just found out that the counterpart driving licence is to the same way as the tax disc. Details that would have been on it are already available online!

So what? You say. Well to access these details requires only three things...
Licence number, and we all know how to construct that,
National insurance number, no secret
Postcode, easily guessed if not already known and no secret.

So now anyone with your name, address date of birth and NI number can check out not only your driving entitlements, but also your driving convictions and medical restrictions. Nice one .gov.

I wonder that the ICO are allowing this.

If I give you my name and DoB, can you tell me my licence number?

Pete

[chipsceola]

Originally Posted by milleplod

If I give you my name and DoB, can you tell me my licence number?

Pete

No, last 3 characters cannot be 'worked' out, and unlikely a guess would be correct

[milleplod]

Exactly my point.

I can't get worked up about people knowing my driving entitlements, convictions (which will have been handed out in an open court anyway....), or any medical restrictions I might have.

Pete

[Avulon]

Originally Posted by milleplod

Exactly my point.

I can't get worked up about people knowing my driving entitlements, convictions (which will have been handed out in an open court anyway....), or any medical restrictions I might have.

Pete

That's good for you then. However you may remember that the old paper licence, and new counterpart could be inserted into the wallet in such a way as to conceal previous convictions (that's how they were supposed to be inserted). This meant that anyone examining your licence could only see your driving entitlements (and name and address and driver number of course). That included the PC that just pulled you over for a back light as well. Guessing 2 characters at the end of your driver number is quite easy (it's only 2).

Try this :
First 5 letters of surname, if less than 5 add '9's until you get to 5.
now day your date of birth dd/mm/Yy and re-arrange it so: Ymmddy
now take your first three initials, if less than 3 add '9's until you get to 3.
now add two letters (650 combinantions only).

So let's have Mr J S Smith born on 01/07/64. His driver number will be

SMITH601074JS9## (where ## is the two letters).

As far as not caring about all and sundry knowing your medical information, that's your decision, should you wish to share it. It's not the decision of the DVLA. Some people don't care who know's what about them, and get taken advantage of, discriminated against and ripped off left right and centre because of it. Other's are more circumspect.



PS. The two letters are a checksum, so can be calculated once the checksum method is worked out. there may also be an issue number at the end.

PPS. Of course I could always just phone the DVLA and tell them I desperately need 'my' driver number for a hire car/some other plausible reason.... After all all I already know 'my' DOB and address...

[milleplod]

Originally Posted by Avulon

That's good for you then. However you may remember that the old paper licence, and new counterpart could be inserted into the wallet in such a way as to conceal previous convictions (that's how they were supposed to be inserted). This meant that anyone examining your licence could only see your driving entitlements (and name and address and driver number of course). That included the PC that just pulled you over for a back light as well. Guessing 2 characters at the end of your driver number is quite easy (it's only 2).

Try this :
First 5 letters of surname, if less than 5 add '9's until you get to 5.
now day your date of birth dd/mm/Yy and re-arrange it so: Ymmddy
now take your first three initials, if less than 3 add '9's until you get to 3.
now add two letters (650 combinantions only).

So let's have Mr J S Smith born on 01/07/64. His driver number will be

SMITH601074JS9## (where ## is the two letters).

As far as not caring about all and sundry knowing your medical information, that's your decision, should you wish to share it. It's not the decision of the DVLA. Some people don't care who know's what about them, and get taken advantage of, discriminated against and ripped off left right and centre because of it. Other's are more circumspect.

You got it wrong. It would be SMITH607014JS9**.

Any PC looking at your licence wouldn't need to see any previous lawbreaking in print, would he?!

I might be missing something here, but who exactly, once counterfoils go, will be looking at your licence details?

Pete