How do I verify a driving licence online?

Yes — the government service portal has a dedicated verification option. Entering the licence details there shows whether the document is registered in the system and what its status is.

The same portal carries several verification services, and confusing them wastes time. E-licence, e-fitness and tax-token verification are separate options; fitness results have their own place; and payment verification is separate again. Pick the service that matches what you actually need.

Verifying before hiring a driver is especially sensible, because a forged licence can look entirely convincing. Judging by the appearance of the card is not a test; matching it against the system is, and that takes a couple of minutes at no cost.

Use only the official portal when you check. A licence number and a date of birth are personal details, and there is no reason to enter them on a third-party website. If a verification comes back with nothing, treat that as a reason to ask questions rather than as proof of forgery on its own — an older record may simply not have been digitised, and the holder can confirm it at a BRTA office.

Sources:

• BRTA service portal