Can I use my UK Provisional Driving License as ID in Europe?
I am going to be travelling in EU soon, mostly Switzerland, and the neighbouring countries, but also a few others, and was wondering if my Provisional UK Driving License is accepted as ID, or would I have to take my Passport with me everywhere?
Best Answer
You certainly don't need to take your passport everywhere. Whether you need to have an ID on you at all times and what is accepted depends on the country. In most cases, being able to produce your passport the next day should be OK (but there are exceptions like the Netherlands where not having a recognized ID on you makes you liable for a fine, no matter what your status is).
In countries like Germany or France, your driver's license (provisional or not) usually would not count as an official ID but should be OK to satisfy the police in the unlikely event that there is a control (here some details about France). What could happen if the police is not satisfied or somehow wants to make your life miserable is that you have to follow them to the police station but not having your passport on you is not an offense in itself.
In Switzerland, Swiss citizens don't have to carry ID but I don't know about foreigners. You will also need your passport to be able to take the plane or ferry to and from the UK.
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Can I drive in Europe with UK provisional licence?
You need to carry your UK driving licence with you. You do not need an international driving permit ( IDP ) to visit and drive in the EU , Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein. You might need an IDP to drive in some EU countries and Norway if you have: a paper driving licence.Can you use UK driving license as ID abroad?
You can use it when travelling domestically and intra-schengan (IIRC), just not from UK-continental Europe. You can however use it when travelling from the UK-IOM/ROI/Channel Islands (as you don't need a passport). The UK driving license could be so poorly made and therefore assuming it's fake.Can a UK provisional license be used as ID?
Yes they do count as ID, as long as you have a new style licence (colour as apposed to black and white). Yeah they ask for your passport number when you fill in the form and they take the picture directly from that.Can I use my UK driving licence in Spain as ID?
Do I need to take my UK driving licence abroad? Yes - an International Driving Permit is only valid if you're carrying your UK licence with you. Additionally, whether an IDP is required or not, most countries such as France and Spain require you to carry your driving licence when driving abroad.How To Get UK Provisional Driving Licence (Faster) for Immigrants | Living in UK as a Foreigner
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