DRIVING licences are a form of identification which can take on many different uses, not only on the road.
Is it mandatory to carry it with you all the time though? This is all you need to know.
GettyYou should always carry around your driving licence with you to be on the safe side[/caption]
Do I need to carry my driving licence at all times?
You are not bound by the law to carry your driving licence 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 for 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 get fined and prosecuted.
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.
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 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.
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 licence number are correct otherwise you may not be covered.