Should I bother - getting a photocard driving licence that is?

My paper licence is getting a bit dog-eared. Not as bad as some
according to the dealer I had to present it to before having a test ride
last week apparently. Doing numerous euro trips though I wondered if it
might prevent any little local difficulty if I fell in line with the EU
directive.

The DVLA give these reasons:

a secure format reduces the chance for misrepresentation
makes certain that the person getting a provisional licence, taking the
test and getting a full driving licence is one and the same
makes certain that the person obtaining the licence is the right age to
do so
cuts the chances of a person holding more than one licence, either by
accident or design
increases accuracy of the DVLA database, that will in turn provide
better information to the police and courts

Should IGAF? Seems like a small step in the direction of an identity
card, but as I happily have a passport why should I care so long as not
required to carry it all the time?

The £20 puts me off a tad. Still I suppose I wouldn't have to renew it
until they make me on reaching three score years and ten.
--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Aprilia Shiver Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Don't do it.
An old licence adds a certain 'gravitas' when dealing with authoritarian
forces, and 20 quid can be far better spent.

 

I folded my old paper license into sixteenths and it fractured along the
folds into little bits, so I ended up laminating it. Still seemed to work
(apart from they would have had a problem putting points on it).

You do have to renew them every 10 years (to update the photo). Costs £20.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/NeedANewOrUpdatedLicence/DG_078070

 

Not only that - which fuckwit decided having two parts to the licence
was the best way to go. I'm hanging on to my nice green one thank you
very much.

 

Didn't realise you were that old!

 

For me, it was about sheer convenience. It holds no more data that the
DVLA have anyway, except a photo. When I want to hire a car, it's just
much easier to pull out a credit-card sized card. In theory, one needs
the paper counterpart as well, but I have never, ever been asked for it.
Probably because most other countries have no idea that we have such a
thing. They see your face on the photo, job done.

I'd forgotten about the 10 year thing though, mine must be due for renewal
very soon.

 

This is 21st century paging UKRM and Blighty. Some countries are now
using ID cards with electronic chips which contain X509 digital
certificates. Paired with suitable card readers, they give proof of
identity and can be used for transactions in government websites and
an increasing number of private ones.

 

Domenec escribió:

The brits don't want ID cards. In fact, as a result, I won't have one next
year. I will then have to carry around a bloody certificate which will
obviously last about 3 months before turning to mush, in addition to my
passport. Walked into hotel the other day "Passport please Sir" - "No, I
have this ID card" - "Oh, that's fine Sir". But no, the brits didn't like it
and so complained. Tossers.

 

ID cards were a great idea however the UK had no chance whatsoever in
pulling off the IT project behind it

 

I don't have a problem with ID cards, if it had little more data than my
driving licence, and I didn't need to remember to carry the thing with me
at all times. Sometimes, I go out without my wallet. <shock>

My problem was mostly with the invasive all-encompassing database behind
it. We'd **** that up, then accidently lose all the data. If it was just
name, address, etc. Then big deal. If it's got fingerprints, iris scans
and other biometrics, that awfully uncomfortable for me.

 

Switters escribió:

Mine has my name, address, ID number (like SS number - lasts for life) and a
thumb-print. Although to get it, I was checked out by Interpol.

 

So chalk and cheese, innit.

 

There was no need whatsoever for that. And in fact it was all the
extra shite the guvmint wanted to do with them that lead to so much
resistance to them in principal.

 

Yep, it was all very weighty.

 

Exactly.

 

I like the idea of a card which is also your driving licence and bank card.
I accept Credit Cards have to be separate. Perhaps dump the responsibility
onto the banks )

But anyway, you need to have said card to buy travel tickets, fuel etc or
have a valid passport/visa. Bye Bye all undocumented aliens.

 

Don't you have some sort of "tarjeta de residente"?

There is much debate on furrin expats who live here and charge the social
system (health, mainly) but as they are not registered no payment from
origin countries can be requested...

 

You could have outsourced it to Dagoland. Decades of experience under a
fascist rule resulted in an excellent ID card system

 

This answers my question, thanks

 

HEH!

Your assertion works in a country were all workers are declared and pay
taxes and have social security.

In a country with pretended 20% unemployment and no revolution in the
streets, it simply means that undocumented aliens and many locals have oral
contracts paid with cash.

There was some dole system attempt for long term unemployment that didn't
work because the money help required taking courses... held in working
hours, so very few "long term job seekers" attended the courses.