carrying drivers license?

Question

Is it against the law in the UK, NOT to be carrying both parts of your driving license while driving?

Answer 1

I'm a police woman.

It is an offence not to produce your driving license (both parts), certificate of insurance and certificate of MOT when required to do so by a police constable in uniform under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

If you dont have them we will caution you (legal reasons) and ask you questions about whether you hold these documents or not. This will all be written down in our pocket note book and you should be given an opportunity to read it and sign it.

You will then be issued with a HO/RT1 form. Most people call them producers. At this point you have committed an offence. However it is force policy that we will give people 7 days to produce at a police station, if you do we will take no action against you. If you dont we will complete a Summons file and you will be summonsed to court to be prosecuted for the offence you committed at the roadside.

Saying that, the process is very common, and nothing to worry about (providing you have all the documents).

Answer 2

I have first hand knowledge of this

Strictly by the letter of the law it is illegal

But as you know this is impractical

There is a defence in law that you produce it when required to a police station within 7 days if required to do so by a police officer

So basically as long as you can produce your driving license within 7 days no its not illegal as such to not carry your driving license

(By the way police can check your driving license without seeing it by accessing the DVLA license database using their radios)

Answer 3

No it is not. I never carry my driving licence around with me. What happens if your car is stolen or if you are mugged. The thief has then got legal documents about you which will help him steal your identity or sell the stolen car for easily. If you get stopped by the police then you will still get given a producer even if you have got your driving licence on you. So you will still have to take all your documents down to the local police station so they can check them and make a recording of them.

So don't bother carrying your documents around with you. keep them safely hidden at home.

Answer 4

No you don't have to have it, but the police can require you to produce it at a police station of your choice in England and wales within seven days and will give you a Form HORT1 to do this

You do have to read Sec164 carefully though as it is written in the negative and creates an offence not to produce at the scene with a statutory defence if you produce in seven days

but the bottom line is you do not have to produce it nor are you in reality expected to by the British Police

Answer 5

In France and elsewhere in Europe one must have a driving licence and log book in one's possession when driving.

In the United Kingdom it has always been the case that one can produce them at a police station later.

See the Home Office Web site:

"What happens if I get stopped?

"The police have the power to stop anyone at any time – they don’t need to give you a reason – and failing to stop is a criminal offence.

"When pulled over by the police, you may be asked to produce documents including:

* drivers’ licence
* insurance certificate
* vehicle registration document

"If you don’t have these with you, you’ll be given seven days to produce them at a police station. If you feel you’ve been stopped too many times, you can make a complaint."

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/powers/road-traffic/

Answer 6

You don't have to carry either part, but if stopped by the police you would be asked to produce your driving licence and other documents at your nearest Police station within 7 days.

Answer 7

I am pretty much with Dawny on this one and there is no point rehashing her answer.

However, it is worth noting that under Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act, police officers CAN stop your car - you don't have to have a dodgy brake light or take the bend too fast!

I am also in agreement with 90210 sentiments that if you do keep all your documents in your car and it is stolen, the thieves have a whole new identity!!! Even more so if they look like your driving licence picture!!!

Answer 8

i do not carry my driving license all the time. if you are stopped by the police, they will give a paper to produce your document at a local police station, with in 24 hours or so may days. your documents are normally car registration, insurance, mot and licence

Answer 9

Yes it is illegal not to carry them, as you have a legal duty to produce them to a police officer on request.
However, the police use discretion on this power and give citizens 7 days grace to produce driving documents at a police station... this is called a "producer".
If you dont produce your docs in 7 days, you get summoned to court

Answer 10

You dont have to carry both parts of your licence, you just have to be able to produce them within 7 days of being asked. And yes we do need a valid reason to stop you.Stopping someone because we dont like the cut of their jib just wont cut it with the sarge.Taking a corner too fast will.