Where do you keep your driving license?

[PookahMacPhellimey]

I recently passed my driving test (hooray!) and duly received my full license. Now, I've seen American licenses that were the size and shape of a credit card and you could keep that in your wallet. Handy.

However, the Irish one is too big for that to work. It's also flimsy (thin cardboard with some even thinner plastic over it in a plastic case). I used to carry my provisional in my bag and after a year it was looking quite grotty. This one is meant to last ten years! How?

I talked to an English friend and she said she kept in it a drawer at home. Does anyone else do that? Surely you have to have it on you when driving or am I mistaken?

So, mainly for countries that have awkward sized and/or flimsy licences. Do you carry it on you at all times and if so, how do you stop it from getting lost/falling to bits?

[butler1850]

In the US it is about the same size as a business card, and most (mens) wallets have a spot with a clear cover to place it into. It fits "just right" into that spot, though we still do (if ID is checked) have to remove it from it's "spot".

I'd love to see what yours looks like for comparison.

Another aside (hijack?)... are wallets in the UK/Ireland/EU a different size than those in the USA? Money may be a different size, and my wallet fits US dollars perfectly, with not a whole lot of extra room.

-Butler

[butler1850]

darn, hit post too soon.

In most cases, it is required to have your license on your person when you are operating a motor vehicle on the public roadways. There are exceptions, which vary by state. (New Hampshire being one, you have 24 hours to present your license.... it's held by many rental places for things like skis, and you'd likely be driving to the mountain after renting skis in many situations)

[PookahMacPhellimey]

Originally Posted by butler1850

I'd love to see what yours looks like for comparison.

I googled quickly but couldn't find an image. It's about double the American size. Actually four times that size but folded over. It's pink. It's got a harp on it. This is because that Ireland's national symbol but it pleases me because I play the harp and one of my big reasons for getting the license was to be able to transport it.

Another aside (hijack?)... are wallets in the UK/Ireland/EU a different size than those in the USA? Money may be a different size, and my wallet fits US dollars perfectly, with not a whole lot of extra room.

Yes, I would say so. Dollars are longer than Euros (and most of the old European currencies too). I had to fold them to make them fit into my wallet.

[Colophon]

Originally Posted by PookahMacPhellimey

I talked to an English friend and she said she kept in it a drawer at home. Does anyone else do that? Surely you have to have it on you when driving or am I mistaken?

AFAIK you don't have to carry your driving licence in the UK while driving. I haven't been able to find a cite on the DVLA website but here's one on another site that backs up what I understand to be the situation:

There is no identity system in this country and you do not need to carry your driving licence with you when driving but, if the police stop you and want to see your licence you have to take it to a police station within seven days.

I still have one of the old-style paper driving licences. (So if I feel like driving some paper, I'm ready to roll!) This is a large sheet of paper that folds down into a rectangle that I keep in the inside pocket of my wallet. I have never had to show it anywhere, other than to rent cars and vans. Driving licences aren't used much for ID here (the old ones have no photo on, for a start).

One of these days I'll get around to getting a photocard licence, but I have to send my passport in with the application, which could take several weeks, so I wouldn't be able to travel in the meantime.

[Anaamika]

Originally Posted by butler1850

darn, hit post too soon.

In most cases, it is required to have your license on your person when you are operating a motor vehicle on the public roadways. There are exceptions, which vary by state. (New Hampshire being one, you have 24 hours to present your license.... it's held by many rental places for things like skis, and you'd likely be driving to the mountain after renting skis in many situations)

Total hijack - they take your license for 24 hours? Why?

[Regallag_The_Axe]

Originally Posted by Anaamika

Total hijack - they take your license for 24 hours? Why?

I think that misinterpreting this. I'm nearly sure that you have 24 hours in which to present your licence to the authorities after you have been pulled over, rather than having to show it to the cop immedeately.

[Anaamika]

Originally Posted by butler1850

it's held by many rental places for things like skis, and you'd likely be driving to the mountain after renting skis in many situations)

Ok, so they don't take it away for 24 hours...but rather for however long your ski trip is.

Having lived all of my driving years in NY, which is the MOST anal-retentive State about licenses, insurance, registration, I'm having a cognitive disconnect about giving my license up to anyone for any length of time.

[GorillaMan]

I'm amazed that Ireland hasn't introduced credit-card-size ones - I thought the British ones were part of EU standardisation, as with passports.

[Cyn]

In California, it's common for a clerk to ask for picture ID when ringing up a purchase with a check or credit card, so many wallets and checkbooks have a clear plastic window for a driver's license. To buy alcohol and cigarettes, you can be carded. (Asked to show ID) You have to physically have the card while operating a motor vechicle in CA, so it's unusual to hear an adult say they have no ID on them. I have a wallet-with-window.

[AskNott]

I keep mine in my wallet, except when I'm in the gym or out bicycle riding. I don't carry my wallet there, so I keep license and medical insurance card clipped to a long strap around my neck. If I have a heart attack while I'm working out, I want absolutely no delay in the emergency room while they try to figure out who I am and if I'm insured.

[GorillaMan]

Actually, FWIW, I (and I think most people my age in the UK) carry ours in our wallets by habit - it's true that we're rarely asked for ID, but it's the most convenient one to produce when necessary. After all, your passport doesn't have your address.

[SmackFu]

Originally Posted by PookahMacPhellimey

Surely you have to have it on you when driving or am I mistaken?

I was looking for a photo (with no luck) and noticed that on this page, it says, in bold:

From the 1st January, 2003 you are required to carry your full driving licence with you at all times when driving in Ireland.

[Ephemera]

Originally Posted by Cyn

In California, it's common for a clerk to ask for picture ID when ringing up a purchase with a check or credit card.

It's the same way here in Oregon but wasn't very common in Tennessee. Might be a West Coast thing. For everything else you mentioned, I'm pretty sure it's national. I almost never leave my home without some form of identification -- license and SSN usually -- on me.

[TheLoadedDog]

Australian ones (New South Wales, anyway) are credit card sized exactly. In fact, they're printed on the same plastic credit card blanks. These contain a photo, and are recognised everywhere as ID Like a passport, they carry a lot of weight for places that use a points system for opening accounts, etc. In fact people who don't drive have trouble proving who they are. This has gotten so bad that young adults (18+) can actually get Proof of Age cards issued by the traffic authority even if they don't drive (they look similar to a licence, are printed on the same blanks, have a photo, and simian nightclub bouncers seem to accept them). Credit card licences have been around for about ten years. For about five years before that, they were credit card sized, but were a piece of paper sealed in plastic (still with a photo). Before that, they were a C5-sized piece of paper with no photo. My first licence was one of these, and it needed to be folded into quarters to fit in my wallet. It was only valid for a year, but even so, you had to learn not to take it out of your wallet and unfold it unless you really had to, otherwise it would fall to pieces along the creases (hey, that rhymes!).

I've always kept my licences in my wallet. I have seen in American movies (Blues Bros comes to mind), a driver gets pulled over and he reaches up into a pocket behind the sun visor to take out his licence for the cop. Is this common practice? Do you leave it in there when you're away from the car?

[35340]

I generally keep it in the car - when I am asked for ID at most places I generally either refuse and pay with a card that requires no secondary ID (debit) or cash.

If I carry ID on me, it's a standard state issue ID card.

I've never been randomly asked for my ID in a non-purchase or non-wrongdoing situation.

[mangeorge]

Originally Posted by GorillaMan

Actually, FWIW, I (and I think most people my age in the UK) carry ours in our wallets by habit - it's true that we're rarely asked for ID, but it's the most convenient one to produce when necessary. After all, your passport doesn't have your address.

Does pretty much everyone in Europe, or more specifically in England, have a passport? I gather (guess, actually) that you folks cross borders more frequently than us in the US. Especially now, what with the Chunnel and all.
Peace,
mangeorge

[GorillaMan]

Originally Posted by mangeorge

Does pretty much everyone in Europe, or more specifically in England, have a passport? I gather (guess, actually) that you folks cross borders more frequently than us in the US. Especially now, what with the Chunnel and all.

The vast majority do, yes (and this was the case long before the tunnel was dug - package holidays abroad have been common for decades). And a number of countries have national ID cards as well. Then again, the countries in the Schengen area (basically mainland western Europe) don't have any border controls.

[butler1850]

Originally Posted by Anaamika

Total hijack - they take your license for 24 hours? Why?

They only take it for the duration of the rental. This is usually for short term rentals only (that day), and is likely now replaced by a credit card deposit. I have no cite btw for the 24 hours to present your license to the police, but IIRC that's how it was when I started driving / skiing (about the same time, and no Credit card then).

I'd personally never want to drive without the license in hand, as that's just asking for trouble, even if it is the law (which I've no clue if it is or not).

[mangeorge]

Coming next, under the homeland security act: Your retina will be your universal national ID card. Officials will carry a scanner connected wirelessly to a database, making a driver's license (and privacy) obsolete.

[butler1850]

Originally Posted by mangeorge

Coming next, under the homeland security act: Your retina will be your universal national ID card. Officials will carry a scanner connected wirelessly to a database, making a driver's license (and privacy) obsolete.

Fine by me... one less thing to lose, one less fear for me (identity theft).

[partlycloudy]

Originally Posted by TheLoadedDog

I've always kept my licences in my wallet. I have seen in American movies (Blues Bros comes to mind), a driver gets pulled over and he reaches up into a pocket behind the sun visor to take out his licence for the cop. Is this common practice? Do you leave it in there when you're away from the car?

Your Australian licenses/IDs sound similar to the ones in the US. Here, your drivers license is often used as an ID, so those who don't have drivers licenses sometimes get state-issued IDs (that look a lot like a drivers license).

I've never known anyone to keep his/her drivers license behind the visor of their car. I don't think that's a very safe option now, with all the identity theft stuff going on. I do know someone who has a "spare" in his glove compartment. I always get carded for stuff, so I like to have mine on me all the time.

Sorry for my poor grammar in this post... argh.

[1010011010]

Originally Posted by butler1850

Fine by me... one less thing to lose, one less fear for me (identity theft).

Biometric data won't protect you from identity theft. It will prevent someone from using your stolen ID Cards, but won't necessarily prevent them from getting their own (with their biometric data) in your name. Biometric data is useless without a big ol' database that everyone can access to vet the IDs, and a big ol' database that everyone can access to vet the IDs is going to be a wildly unpopular idea. But it will give everyone a feeling of false security, so when someone does steal your identity it will be that much harder to clean up the mess (since they had ID that "proves" you, and only you, made those purchases).

I've had both laminated paper and plastic licenses. Both card sized. Both kept in my wallet. The current wallet has a little removable ID caddy that has my DL and Military ID (also had laminated paper and plastic versions)... which is pretty much useless since I'm almost always asked to take it out, whichever one I'm presenting.

[brianjedi]

Mine stays in my wallet unless I have to take it out for some specific reason.

I'm about to get a new one, though, as my 21st is approaching and my old-style laminated photopaper license will be replaced by a shiny new UV-coated plastic license.

My new one will look like this, except without the woman on it: http://transportation.ky.gov/drlic/I...ple4_r1_c1.jpg

Can't find a picture of the old KY license. We changed licenses right after I got mine, since the old KY license was apparently RIDICULOUSLY easy to forge.

[mangeorge]

Originally Posted by brianjedi

Mine stays in my wallet unless I have to take it out for some specific reason.

I'm about to get a new one, though, as my 21st is approaching and my old-style laminated photopaper license will be replaced by a shiny new UV-coated plastic license.

My new one will look like this, except without the woman on it: http://transportation.ky.gov/drlic/I...ple4_r1_c1.jpg

Can't find a picture of the old KY license. We changed licenses right after I got mine, since the old KY license was apparently RIDICULOUSLY easy to forge.

I sure hope that's just a specimen, and not really Ms Faith's license. The name sound's a little obvious, but you can never be sure with names.
It doesn't say "fake" across the front though, does it?
Isn't duplicating a drivers license a Federal Crime
What kind of cigarettes should we send?

[Cunctator]

Mine stays in my wallet. I occasionally use it as a form of identification, but otherwise it rarely gets used. I hardly ever drive a car and I've never had to show it to the police.

[Nametag]

Originally Posted by TheLoadedDog

I have seen in American movies (Blues Bros comes to mind), a driver gets pulled over and he reaches up into a pocket behind the sun visor to take out his licence for the cop. Is this common practice? Do you leave it in there when you're away from the car?

It's not the license, it's the car's registration. Many people have a little case clipped to the visor for this.

[GorillaMan]

Originally Posted by Nametag

It's not the license, it's the car's registration. Many people have a little case clipped to the visor for this.

That must work differently to here - keeping our registration documents with the car is a very bad idea, because they contain all the forms necessary for somebody to transfer the car to a new owner. Obviously this wouldn't be legally-binding, but it would get very messy and complicated if a thief did this (in a false name, obviously) before the car was reported stolen.

[Honeydew]

Originally Posted by GorillaMan

I'm amazed that Ireland hasn't introduced credit-card-size ones - I thought the British ones were part of EU standardisation, as with passports.

Ireland is not part of Britian... totally different country.

As to the OP, I keep mine in my purse - its a wallet sized one that pretty much holds it except for a little bit at the top which I just folded over. As far as I know, the Gardai can ask you to produce your licence at any time so its best you carry it with you (which I why I carry it in my purse because I always have that with me).

[curly chick]

I normally keep mine in my car, as you are legally required to have it with you while you're driving, in case the Gardai stop you for anything. I've never had to show it to them, though and the people who see my driving licence the most are the check-in people on the Ryanair desk.

[brianjedi]

Originally Posted by mangeorge

I sure hope that's just a specimen, and not really Ms Faith's license. The name sound's a little obvious, but you can never be sure with names.
It doesn't say "fake" across the front though, does it?
Isn't duplicating a drivers license a Federal Crime
What kind of cigarettes should we send?

Since the photo is linked to on the front page of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet webpage and resides on their server, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that it's a specimen.

[GorillaMan]

Originally Posted by Honeydew

Ireland is not part of Britian

I'm fully aware of that, thank you - I mentioned the British shift to card licences as "part of EU standardisation", in case you didn't notice.

[Nametag]

Originally Posted by GorillaMan

That must work differently to here - keeping our registration documents with the car is a very bad idea, because they contain all the forms necessary for somebody to transfer the car to a new owner. Obviously this wouldn't be legally-binding, but it would get very messy and complicated if a thief did this (in a false name, obviously) before the car was reported stolen.

The title ("pink slip," although they're no longer pink here) is distinct from the registration, and does indeed have a form on the back for transfer/sale. The registration is renewed every year, and shows who the registered owner is, and that the registration is current (i.e., that smog and insurance requirements have been met).

[GorillaMan]

Originally Posted by Nametag

The title ("pink slip," although they're no longer pink here) is distinct from the registration, and does indeed have a form on the back for transfer/sale. The registration is renewed every year, and shows who the registered owner is, and that the registration is current (i.e., that smog and insurance requirements have been met).

Yep, it's all different. The periodic elements here are the MOT (roadworthiness test, including emissions), and the annual road tax (which requires evidence of the MOT and insurance). The road tax is the one you have to prove at all times (by a 'tax disc' displayed in the windscreen).

[mangeorge]

Originally Posted by Nametag

It's not the license, it's the car's registration. Many people have a little case clipped to the visor for this.

Once upon a time your registration had to be visible from the outside of the car. Many people used a pocket with a clear plastic window that was made to strap onto the steering column. This practice ended in, I guess, the early-mid 50's in CA. I was a little kid. Story is, anf it makes sense, that crooks would read your address on your registration when you went in to see a movie or some such and go rob your house.
Yeah, The Good Old Days. Right.

[PookahMacPhellimey]

Originally Posted by Honeydew

As to the OP, I keep mine in my purse - its a wallet sized one that pretty much holds it except for a little bit at the top which I just folded over. As far as I know, the Gardai can ask you to produce your licence at any time so its best you carry it with you (which I why I carry it in my purse because I always have that with me).

Thanks (also to SmackFu and Curly Chick) for confirming this. I do wish they would get a credit card sized one as it certainly doesn't fit my "ladylike" purse.

[gfloyd]

Here in MA, the roadworthiness test you mentioned is a third document, this one in the form of a sticker adhered to the windshield. Registration in the glovebox, title at home in the safe, lincense in my wallet. I have an under 21 license (which is somehow good until I'm 22). I use it to get into clubs and that's about it. When I go clubbing and don't take a purse, the license (and usually my school ID and bank card) go in my pocket or into the wallent of one of the people I'm going with.

In terms of using them at stores, I'm a clerk in a bookstore. We are required to ask for a photo ID when someone is writing a check, when their card isn't signed or if the card asks us for one.

Something I wish MA would do is to make the learner's permit a card as well,l instead of a slip of paper that gets trashed quickly. I know Florida does it as a card, having seen them. This also makes them a more valid form of ID.

[CrazyCatLady]

Well, if you don't need the license for ID purposes, just pop it into your glove box along with your manual and other car-related paperwork. Then you don't have to worry about it getting lost or damaged in the bag, and you've always got it if you're driving your car.

[PookahMacPhellimey]

Originally Posted by CrazyCatLady

Well, if you don't need the license for ID purposes, just pop it into your glove box along with your manual and other car-related paperwork. Then you don't have to worry about it getting lost or damaged in the bag, and you've always got it if you're driving your car.

Yes, I did think of that but was a bit worried about people breaking into the car/stealing the car. Mind you, I think the risk of that happening might just be smaller than me loosing it.

[mangeorge]

I used to leave my DL in my glove box. About 20 yrs ago a cop stopped me in Hayward, CA. After the usual greetings, he said he stopped me because I didn't have an outside mirror on the right side of my very old chevy pickup. I replied that I had one on the left and one inside and that was all that was required. There had been was one on the right as far as I knew. He went back to his car for a while, then returned, with an attitude, and asked for my DL. I reached for my glove box to get it and he almost "had a cow", right there on the street. He insisted that I had to carry my DL in my wallet or pocket, and keeping it in my box was illegal. It must be in my possession, he said. I argued (giggling by now) that I was sure he was mistaken. Back he goes to his B&W, sits a while, then returns again and tells me to hit the road. I'm sure that if keeping my DL in the glove box were illegal I would have been in jail that night.
After all that he didn't see my license. :wally
Bad night I guess.
Glove box is good.

[amarone]

When I lived in the UK (my home country), I kept my licence at home in a drawer. As I only ever had to produce it twice, as I recall (one ticket, one "not guilty"), it was certainly not worth taking up wallet space. I don't believe I was ever asked for ID during the 35 years I lived in England. And even had I been, my driver's licence would have been pretty useless as it has no picture on it.

In the US, I carry it in my wallet as I have to show it endlessly to prove I am not one of those rare underage drinkers who happens to look to be in his mid-forties (plus for my four tickets in the US - the cops here are so keen. And the speed limits so low).

[mangeorge]

Yeah, but the Brits have those really cool sirens. Almost worth getting a ticket.
wee ooo wee ooo wee ooo
Haha! I've heard that some places in the US have them, but I don't know if it's true or not.
Peace,
mangeorge

[Honeydew]

Originally Posted by PookahMacPhellimey

Thanks (also to SmackFu and Curly Chick) for confirming this. I do wish they would get a credit card sized one as it certainly doesn't fit my "ladylike" purse.

No problem. However, if they did make it credit card sized, I'd have to go on another search for an even larger purse cos they never make women's purses with enough credit card slots... what with credit and laser cards, clubcards for shopping points, video shop cards etc... my purse can barely hold money!!!! (Not that thats a problem I suppose, hardly any of that in there )

[Honeydew]

Originally Posted by GorillaMan

I'm fully aware of that, thank you - I mentioned the British shift to card licences as "part of EU standardisation", in case you didn't notice.

Sorry - I noticed after that you were in the UK... its often a mistake that's made and it annoys me, thats all.

Apologies.