Do I need to carry my driving licence? Rules around driver ID card explained
DRIVING licences are not only the legal requirement to get behind the wheel of a car, but they're a trusted form of photo identification to.
Is it mandatory to carry it with you all the time though? This is all you need to know.
Do I need to carry my driving licence at all times?
You are not bound by the law to carry your everywhere with you, even when driving, but it is suggested that you do.
A driving licence includes personal details about you such as address and birth date which you might need when you are out, especially if you find yourself in an emergency.
While driving, you might be stopped by a police officer who could ask to see your licence, and if you do not have it on the spot then you need to make sure that you present it at a police station within seven days.
If you do not present it, it will be considered as an offence and you might be fined and prosecuted.
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The penalties can include a £1,000 fine, discretionary disqualification and between three and six penalty points.
Circumstances that can lead to prosecution, include having the incorrect licence for the class of vehicle you are driving, driving while disqualified, driving after a licence has been revoked on medical grounds or simply never having passed a driving test.
Your licence should always be kept up to date.
This means you should check the expiry date and replace the photo if it no longer looks like you.
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If your , you’ll have to to change your photo which costs £14.
What documents should I keep in my car?
In order to drive a vehicle on the road you must have a valid driving licence, MOT (if the car is over three years old), vehicle tax, and insurance.
There are no laws which state that you must carry documentation in your car, but you never know what might happen while you're out on the road.
That is why to be safe, you should also carry with you, together with your licence, a valid MOT certificate and a valid insurance certificate.
An MOT certificate will show that at the time of testing, your car meets the minimum requirements for environmental and road safety standards which are accepted by law.
Police can check if your vehicle has the correct insurance and MOT by checking the Police National Computer.
Do I need to carry proof of car insurance?
Proof of car insurance is another recommended document that you should have in your car, although not a legal requirement.
If you are caught up in an accident it proves to any other drivers involved that your vehicle is covered in line with the law.
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However many insurance companies no longer send out certificates of insurance, so always check that you have digital confirmation that your car is covered.
It is illegal to drive without insurance and you should always check that your details, such as name, address and your vehicle's number plate are correct otherwise you may not be covered.