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I have just replaced my paper driving licence with a photo id licence. Whilst I like the nice credit card sized photo id part of the licence, what I did not realise was that there was a paper counterpart that I would have to keep with it at all times. Are there any benefits then in getting a photo id driving licence instead of a paper one?
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While strictly speaking you do need to keep the paper counterpart with you, thereby making it all a wate of time, in practice I've always foudn that the photo bit on it's own is accepted.
The most important occasion when I found this was on arriving at the hire car desk in LA and suddenly, with my heart in my mouth, realising that I had not brought the paper counterpart. Had they refused to accept it, I would have just completely destroyed my honeymoon.
Oh, the other advantage for younger drivers is that you have a readily accepted piece of ID with dob and photo on it. Unfortunately that doesn't apply to me any more.
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While you have to keep it, I don't think there is a legal requirement to carry the paper section at all times.
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I didn't think it was a legal requirement to carry any part of the licence at all times, hence 'The Producer'.
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Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
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I have found that the new licence is more acceptable internationally (especially within the EU) than the old ones and also it can often be used as a means of I.D. for non-motoring purposes.
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Car hire companies in Italy will only accept a photo licence, I expect this to become a rule across the whole of the EU so I'd better get mine changed!
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The rest of europe has the photo licence but there is no paper supplement the UK likes to make everthing complicated.
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Not true.
I hired a car in April from Milan Malpensa without a photo licence.
They looked at my old style licence and passport.
Regularly hire cars in Spain and Italy with no Photo Licence.
Of course, this may change !!!!!
Neil
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I recently hired a car with AVIS and they said they preferred customers who have the old type licenses because with the modern photo card ones customers lots of customers seem to have lost the paper part and it then causes problems with the hire car
I still have a baby pink one
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Thats correct in the UK hire companies must see the paper section to check for endorsements.
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Thats correct in the UK hire companies must see the paper section to check for endorsements.
Except, as I found out, Budget. I was working in Ireland at the time and came back to the UK for a weekend. I'd booked a car in advance from Budget at Stansted, and remembered on the flight over that I'd left the paper counterpart in Ireland. Aaaargh!!! - or so I thought. On speaking to the guy on the desk, he said Budget - being an Irish company, apparently - was the only rental company not to require the paper bit for UK hires.
Not sure whether this is true, but I was allowed to rent with just the photo licence. Surely most other rental companies are not '100% British'??
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I still have a baby pink one
Ahhh - mines the ancient green one still. A bit tattered round the edges though
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Are there any benefits then in getting a photo id driving licence instead of a paper one?
As far as I know you can't get a paper licence any more. See tinyurl.com/ysksb4
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L\'escargot.
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>>Are there any benefits then in getting a photo id driving licence instead of a paper one?
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It saves the anual cost of a photo and an International driving licence if, like me, you go aboad each year.
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I lost my paper bit ages ago. Is this a problem?
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"I lost my paper bit ages ago. Is this a problem?"
Probably if you had to produce your documents for the police or want to hire a car in the UK.
If you already have a photo license, phoning the DVLA to get a replacement costs £19 and it will probably turn up in a few days. Ordered a replacement for my step-son on a Friday afternoon and it arrived the following Tuesday.
I do not believe you can get just the replacement paper counterpart to the license - I've seen how they are printed and the process matches up the paper bit and photo card at the end of the process. The photo card and paper bit obviously being produced on different equipment. The complete process is split across different rooms and involves conveyor belts and all sorts of other machinery.
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>>>>> .....probably if you had to produce your documents......
Not just probably - absolutely definitely - both police and car hire firms in the UK insist on knowing how clean your licence is and the paper part is the only way of finding out. Best to keep it with your photo part.
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Yay. So new driving license required, and I need a new passport too. Still, if I hurry I can get it before they need blood / iris scans / first born child etc. At least I'll get a chance to put in a photo that looks like me though. :-)
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Thanks for all the responses
So the main reason it for car hire companies to be able to see your endorsements.
Could this not have been held on some sort of magnetic strip at the back that only the DVLA could update and the Hire Companies could read. It seems a bit of a halfway house and now there are two things that you can forget to take with you instead of one. Surely not a fully thought out solution.
SWMBO also got the new licence "What do you mean there are two parts you have to take with you"? You see its all my fault now!!!
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I was going to change my old paper licence for a new photo one until I found out that you have to renew it every 10 years and pay again. I'll keep my old one thank you very much, it won't cost me anthing to hold a licence.
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I was going to change my old paper licence for a new photo one until I found out that you have to renew it every 10 years and pay again.
Do you also have to provide a new photograph and have it verified? When I moved house, and had to apply for a photocard licence, it cost me an arm and a leg to get my doctor to verify my photograph.
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L\'escargot.
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AFAIK, if you can be identified from both the new and old photos it's not a problem, and you just include the new photo. If there's significant difference (ie, you can't tell it's the same person), you need to get it verified by an "approved member of society". Since I plan a career as a commercial pilot I want a new passport for a couple of reasons - my current one expires in 2 years and the photo is appalling (and 8 years old) and doesn't make me look particularly professional! Also, my intention is to renew before the identity card becomes compulsory and pushes the cost up another £60.
BTW, since once I graduate and gain an honours degree in a month or two (hopefully), does that mean I can sign my own photo? ;-)
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The offence of 'Failing to produce' Driving Licence AND Counterpart is committed at the time of requirement'
HOWEVER
If the licence AND counterpart or a receipt for such (Endorsable fixed penalty licence surrendered) are produced within 7 days then there is no further action.
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Fullchat
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Fullchat is the reality now that very few HO/RT1s are issued since PNC gives access to Driver Database/MoT and Insurance Databases ?
A contact who works for North Wales Police tells me that all their Operational Officers will have real time access via Smartphones to the DVLA's Photolicence Databse in the next couple of months.
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Of course, you are right as regards how in reality practices are moving forward with technology. Wonder how long it will be before legislation catches up??!!
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Fullchat
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When I was still teaching I found I was often asked to countersign photos, now daughter is asked - find a teacher next time!
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About a year ago I was in Manchester Airport and went to the rental car desk. There was a customer being served and having a very heated discussion with the guy serving him. The reason turned out to be that he had a photo licence but not the paper bit. The guy would not let him rent a car without the paper bit and was offering to phone the DVLA but only for a surcharge (40 quid if memory serves correct). The customer did not get his car and ended up walking off swearing.
When it was my turn, I handed over my german driving licence, which the guy clearly couldn't read, and within 30 seconds had the keys to a Vectra in my hand. What is the point of the british photo licence if it still needs a tatty bit of paper to go with it?
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so a disqualified German who'd told the German authorities he'd misplaced his licence (when he hadn't) when they disqualified him and wanted his licence handed in...can hire what he wants over here.........yet one of us can't if we've forgotten our paper counterpart
it surely cannot cost the hire car co. £40 to check with DVLA
and how about the thousands wandering around with forged licences or those who have a friend/relative sit the test
we are right mugs aren't we in this country.........some of the carp we put up with....always the law abiding and honest that get the short end of it
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swmbo had an italian d/licence, the cloth type, she literally "cleaned " it up using soapy water and a cloth then surrendered it for a full uk licence as she is resident in uk, when she recieved it ,it even had full motorcycle entitlement too!!!!
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Yes, it is such a typical only half thought out government project that requires you to keep a bit of paper with your license.
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One use of the paper counterpart is to register a change of address and apply for a new licence. There isn't enough room to do it on the photocard.
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L\'escargot.
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