Driving Licences: Sex

(asked on 2nd September 2025) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the policy of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on self-identification, both with and without a gender recognition certificate, in relation to the recording of legal sex.


Answered by
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Portrait
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This question was answered on 12th September 2025

A driving licence number reflects the gender of the licence holder as notified to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The seventh character of the number will be a zero or one if the driver record shows the licence holder is male, and five or six if the record shows the licence holder is female.

The DVLA records gender according to the information provided by the applicant and as indicated on the evidence of identity that is provided at the time the licence is applied for.

Those wishing to change their gender will need to apply to the DVLA and provide supporting evidence, which can include a deed poll, statutory declaration or a gender recognition certificate.

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