Driving licence: where is the document number and blank number?
Driving licence: where to find the document number and blank number? Driving licence number
A driving licence is a key document for every driver, but many of us don't always know exactly where to find the licence number on the document. Whether you need to enter your driving licence number on a form or check your entitlement, it's useful to know where to look for this information. In this article, we'll explain where you can find your driving licence number, how it differs from your driving licence print number and how to interpret the different details on this important document.
Where is the driving licence number on the document?
The driving licence number can be found on the front of the document, in the bottom right-hand corner. It is a unique identifier consisting of a sequence of digits (usually 10 digits) that helps identify a specific driving licence in the system. This number is essential for many administrative activities related to driving.
The Polish driving licence, as required by the European Union, was standardised in 2013. Since then, all newly issued driving licences in Poland have had a uniform format, which makes it easier to recognise the driving licence number and other important information.
Location of driving licence number
The driving licence number on the document is placed:
- On the front of the document (aversa)
- Bottom right corner
- Consists of 10 digits
- Jest oznaczony jako „5.” na dokumencie
- It is located below the expiry date of the driving licence
What is the difference between a driving licence number and a print number?
Many drivers confuse their driving licence number with their driving licence print number, but these are two completely different identifiers. The driving licence number and the print number have different functions and are located in different places on the document.
Driving licence print number - where to find it?
The driving licence print number is the number of the blank driving licence that identifies a particular print of the document. This number can be found:
- On the other side of the document (reverse side)
- This is a blank driving licence number
- Consists of various numbers and letters
- Serves the technical and security purposes of the document
The driving licence blank is the standard form from which driving licences are drawn up. Each blank has a unique number which allows the authenticity of the document to be controlled and verified.
Structure of the Polish driving licence - what does the document contain?
The driving licence contains a number of important pieces of information, which are arranged on the front and back of the document. The importance of the driving licence number is that it is the main identifier of the document in the system.
On the front of the document you will find:
- Driving licence number (punkt 5) – główny identyfikator dokumentu
- Name (point 1)
- Date of birth (point 3)
- Place of birth (point 2)
- Date of issue (point 4a)
- Expiry date (point 4b)
- Holder's photo
- Signature of the holder
On the back of the document you will find:
- Driving licence categories with dates of their acquisition
- Restriction codes (if any)
- Blank driving licence number
- Security codes
- Barcode
Driving licence categories and entitlements
The category licence may be of different categories, which determines the entitlement to drive certain types of vehicle. On the back of the driving licence you will find all the categories held with the dates of their acquisition.
Basic driving licence categories:
- Category A – motocykle
- Category B - passenger cars up to 3.5 tonnes
- Category C – pojazdy ciężarowe
- Category D – autobusy
- Category T – ciągniki rolnicze
- Category AM – motorowery
Each category has its own licence validity, which can be checked on the driving licence document.
What should I do if I lose my driving licence?
If you lose your driving licence and want to get a new one, you need the driving licence number of the original document. However, often when we lose our driving licence we do not remember this number. Here is what you can do:
Steps when losing a driving licence:
- Notification to the office – należy zgłosić się do właściwego urzędu miasta lub gminy
- Application for a new driving licence – wypełnienie odpowiedniego formularza
- Entering your PESEL number – zamiast numeru prawa jazdy można podać numer PESEL
- Identity documents – dowód osobisty lub paszport
- Fee for issuing a new document
The application for a driving licence requires the driver's licence number, but in the event of loss of the licence, the office can search for the data on the basis of the PESEL number.
How do I check the validity of my driving licence?
The expiry date of the entitlement can be found on the front of the document (point 4b). In Poland, different categories have different expiry dates:
Expiry dates:
- Driving licence cat. A, B – 15 lat od wydania
- Category C driving licence – 5 lat
- Category D driving licence – 5 lat
- Cat. T driving licence – 5 lat
The driving licence must be exchanged before the expiry date. The driving licence number shall remain the same during the exchange due to the expiry date.
International driving licence - when is it needed?
The issue of an international driving licence requires a valid Polish driving licence. The driving licence number is crucial when applying for an international driving licence, as it is one of the required elements.
When you need an international driving licence:
- Driving abroad outside the EU
- Rental car in some countries
- Business trips abroad
- Relocation to a non-EU country
Differences between driving licence number and print number - summary
Driving licences are two different numbers with different functions:
Driving licence number:
- Located on the front of the document
- It is the main identifier in the system
- Consists of 10 digits
- Needed for most formalities
- Oznaczony jako „5.” na dokumencie
Printing number of the driving licence (blank):
- To be found on the back of the document
- This is the number of the blank driving licence
- Serves security purposes
- Identifies a specific form
- Less frequently used in formalities
When do you need a driving licence number?
The driving licence number is needed in many situations:
- Car rental – firma rental może wymagać podania numeru prawa jazdy
- Contact with insurance companies – przy ustalaniu stawek OC i AC
- Affairs in the office – przy załatwianiu formalności związanych z pojazdami
- Police checks – w niektórych przypadkach może być wymagany
- Application for an international driving licence – obowiązkowy element wniosku
- Reporting offences road – przy wyjaśnieniu niektórych spraw
Documentary evidence of entitlement to drive
The driving licence is the official document confirming the entitlement to drive certain categories of vehicle. The number of this document allows it to be quickly identified in the computer system, which is particularly important for:
- Verification of driver entitlements
- Checking the history of infringements
- Control over the number of penalty points
- Issue of duplicate driving licences
- Replacement of this important document
Practical tips for driving licences
How do I remember my driving licence number?
- Take a photo of the document (protect it properly)
- Save the number on your phone (in a secure note)
- Inform trusted persons of the number (if necessary)
What to do when you can't find a number?
- Sprawdź front dokumentu – prawy dolny róg
- Poszukaj oznaczenia „5.” przed numerem
- Make sure you are looking at the right side of the document
- In case of difficulties, contact the office
Znajomość lokalizacji numeru prawa jazdy na dokumencie jest bardzo przydatna w codziennym życiu. Prawo jazdy zawiera wiele ważnych informacji, ale numer ten jest jedną z najczęściej potrzebnych. Pamiętaj, że numer prawa jazdy i numer druku prawa jazdy to różne identyfikatory – nie myl ich ze sobą. Pierwszy jest głównym numerem dokumentu, drugi to numer blankietu.
W przypadku konieczności wymiany lub odrabiania prawa jazdy, zawsze miej numer prawa jazdy pod ręką – znacznie przyspieszy to formalności w urzędzie. Jeśli nie jesteś pewien, gdzie znaleźć numer prawa jazdy na swoim dokumencie, zawsze lepiej sprawdzić to wcześniej, niż szukać tej informacji w urzędzie.
We hope this article has cleared up any doubts about the driving licence number on the document. Remember that your driving licence is not only a driving document, but also an important piece of identification for many situations in life.
