News1 min ago
Traveling in Europe
3 Answers
Can anyone tell me if you need a photo driving licence to travel in the EU, I have looked on the DVLA site but it only says you can travel in another EU country on your GB licence.
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Do you mean WITHOUT a passport as well?
To be honest, in todays security minded world I think it is silly to try to travel around Europe on planes trying to use just a photo driving license.
While some airlines, and some countries, may take it, others may not, and you may find yourself stuck at an airport, and missing your flight, because you dont have the correct paperwork.
Just buy a passport and then you know you can travel on any airline to any country without a problem.
To be honest, in todays security minded world I think it is silly to try to travel around Europe on planes trying to use just a photo driving license.
While some airlines, and some countries, may take it, others may not, and you may find yourself stuck at an airport, and missing your flight, because you dont have the correct paperwork.
Just buy a passport and then you know you can travel on any airline to any country without a problem.
It's not clear, NG, whether your post refers to passport rules or to driving abroad.
UK driving licences (whether of the old paper type or of the new photo type) can't be used, in place of a passport, for travel to any other EU country. Nearly all EU countries (and a few non-EU countries) are full signatories to the Schengen agreement, which has abolished routine passport controls between those countries. However the UK has refused to sign the agreement (and Ireland is thus prevented from signing, even though they want to, because of the open border between the two countries). That means that UK citizens have to present a passport (or, in future, a national identity card) to enter any other country (except Ireland).
Any full UK driving licence (of either type) is valid for driving anywhere within the EU. If you plan to drive abroad, you should acquaint yourself with the general rules, and also country-specific rules, by consulting this web site:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/ index.html
The only situation where a photo-style driving licence is valid for travel, when a 'paper' one is not, is when travelling by air within the UK (or between the UK and Ireland). All airlines currently accept a photo-style driving licence (but not a 'paper' licence) as proof of ID for security purposes.
Chris
UK driving licences (whether of the old paper type or of the new photo type) can't be used, in place of a passport, for travel to any other EU country. Nearly all EU countries (and a few non-EU countries) are full signatories to the Schengen agreement, which has abolished routine passport controls between those countries. However the UK has refused to sign the agreement (and Ireland is thus prevented from signing, even though they want to, because of the open border between the two countries). That means that UK citizens have to present a passport (or, in future, a national identity card) to enter any other country (except Ireland).
Any full UK driving licence (of either type) is valid for driving anywhere within the EU. If you plan to drive abroad, you should acquaint yourself with the general rules, and also country-specific rules, by consulting this web site:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/ index.html
The only situation where a photo-style driving licence is valid for travel, when a 'paper' one is not, is when travelling by air within the UK (or between the UK and Ireland). All airlines currently accept a photo-style driving licence (but not a 'paper' licence) as proof of ID for security purposes.
Chris
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