Use the DVSA's online service to recover a lost UK theory test pass certificate number. You need your driving licence number and the details you booked with. You do not need to retake the test, and there is no fee for recovering the number.
Recover it online
The DVSA runs a lookup for exactly this. It is free, it takes a couple of minutes, and it does not affect your certificate in any way.
You will need your driving licence number, and the details you used when you booked.
Find your lost theory test pass certificate number — GOV.UK
You have not lost the pass
Worth saying clearly, because people assume the worst: losing the letter does not lose the pass. The certificate number is a record held by the DVSA. The paper is just a copy of it.
What you need it for
Booking your practical test. That is essentially the only time it is asked for, which is why so many people discover the letter is missing two years after filing it somewhere sensible.
While you are there, check the expiry
The pass is valid for two years from the day you passed — see how long your theory pass lasts. If you are digging out the number to book a practical, it is worth confirming you are still inside the window before you spend time on it.
Sources and last verified
Rules and fees change. These are the official pages this answer is based on, with the date we last checked each one — if you are reading this long after, check the source before relying on it.
- Find your lost theory test pass certificate number — DVSA, checked 4 August 2026
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