How to Verify a Driver’s Licence and Background Before You Hire

To verify a driver before you hire, check four things: a valid driving licence of the right category, a genuine photo ID, a clean background or police verification, and references from past employers. Do all four before the first trip, not after something goes wrong.

You are trusting this person with an expensive car and, often, with your family's safety. A few minutes of checking up front is the cheapest protection you have.

Step 1: Check the driving licence

• Ask for the original licence, not a photocopy or a photo on a phone.
• Match the details. The photo, name, licence number and date of birth should all match the person in front of you.
• Check the validity date. An expired licence is not valid for driving.
• Check the category. For an ordinary car, the licence should cover light motor vehicles (LMV).
• Look it up online. The government's Parivahan Sarathi portal lets you look up driving licence details using the licence number and the holder's date of birth. Menu names on the site change from time to time, so search for the driving licence details option on the portal. Confirm that the status shows the licence as valid and that the details match the card.

Step 2: Verify the driver's identity

• Ask for a government photo ID such as Aadhaar, voter ID or PAN, and check that the name matches the licence.
• Ask for consent before you copy any document, and store copies securely. If you keep an Aadhaar copy, use a masked version that hides most of the number.
• Note the driver's current address and a second contact number, such as a family member.

Step 3: Ask for police verification

A police verification certificate shows that the local police have checked the person's address and whether any cases are recorded against them. Many state police websites let you request or apply for verification online, but the process, cost and time vary by state, so check your local police website or visit the nearest station.

If a driver cannot provide one, you can ask them to apply for it and hire only once it arrives, or choose a service that has already verified them.

Step 4: Call references and check experience

• Call at least two previous employers. Ask how long the driver worked for them, why they left, and whether there were any accidents, challans or complaints.
• Check experience with your type of car, manual or automatic, and with the roads you use most.
• Take a trial drive of 20 to 30 minutes. Watch for smooth braking, wearing a seat belt, keeping a safe distance, staying off the phone and following the speed limit.

Step 5: Agree the terms in writing

Write down working hours, pay, overtime, leave, who pays for fuel and challans, and a contact number. A simple written note avoids most disputes later. For safety, share the driver's name, photo and vehicle details with a family member on the first few trips.

Red flags to watch for

• Refuses to show the original licence, or only shows a blurry photo
• Details on the licence and the ID do not match
• Reluctant to give references or a verifiable address
• Vague answers about past employers or accidents
• Asks for advance money before starting
• Drives roughly during the trial, or uses the phone while driving

The shortcut: use a service that verifies for you

Doing all this yourself takes time, and it has to be repeated every time you need a replacement. A platform that verifies drivers before they take trips removes most of the work. On DriverGill, every driver completes government ID and licence checks and background verification before taking trips, followed by ongoing quality monitoring. Each trip has live GPS tracking, share-trip with family and an in-app SOS, and you see the fare before you confirm, with no advance payment.

Read more on our safety page, or see our guides on whether it is safe to hire a driver in Delhi and booking an urgent driver safely.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check if a driving licence is valid online? Use the government's Parivahan Sarathi portal. Enter the licence number and the holder's date of birth to see the licence details and status, then compare them with the physical card.

Which licence does a car driver need? A valid driving licence that covers light motor vehicles (LMV), which is the category for ordinary cars.

What is police verification for a driver? It is a certificate from the local police confirming the person's address and whether any cases are recorded against them. The process varies by state.

Should I keep a copy of my driver's documents? You can, with the driver's consent, but store them securely and avoid keeping full copies of sensitive IDs. A masked Aadhaar copy is safer than the full number.

How does DriverGill verify its drivers? Every driver completes government ID and licence checks and background verification before taking trips, and quality is monitored on an ongoing basis.

Want a verified driver without doing the checks yourself? See the hourly driver and monthly driver options, or choose your city: Delhi or Lucknow.