wliwl

First, does one go through customs between France and Italy?

Second, can you think of any reason I would need my driver's license in Europe if I am not driving (and have my passport)?

Thanks!

massagediva

As you travel between EU countries,you do not have to deal with immigration/customs. You are processed as you enter an EU country from/to a non-EU country. I have never needed my drivers' license abroad,but I have used it as a "deposit" when renting an audioguide in museums.

billy_boy

I, too, hate carrying anymore than I need to.

But, what's your problem with carrying an extra piece of idnetification that everyone carries, whether here or abroad?

It's not bulky and it fits perfectly in wallet slots.

Grasshopper

On the other hand, if heaven forbid your wallet is stolen or lost, it's one less thing to replace when you get home.

You won't need your DL.

Christina

Even if not driving in Europe, I would never leave my DL at home. I guess you don't plan on driving to the airport or home, but even then, a DL is accepted as legitimate government ID for many purposes in Europe, and you do sometimes need to leave an ID as deposit for audioguides, as mentioned. I would much rather leave my DL than a passport or credit card or something at a desk in a museum.

Tulips

And in case of emergencies or general strikes, you may want to rent a car even though you haven't planned for this.

walkinaround

billy...everyone does not carry a licence in europe. in most countries it is not required to carry it whilst driving and it is not used as ID as it is for everything like it is in the US. i never carry mine.

however, i agree that it may be helpful to leave as a deposit for audio headsets and the like and it could come in handy if your passport gets stolen and you need to go to the US embassy to replace it.

billy_boy

walkinaround:

So not every European carries one in Europe. However, I am NOT European and, as an American travelling in a foreign land, it will be my other peice of ID should something bad happen to my passport. It's definitley a lot easier to walk into the US Consulate/Embassy with one piece of ID and get quick support and help for anything when one has a valid American ID.

Besides, I'd rather have a valid ID on me than carry my passport with me during my sightseeing, restaurant and bar-hopping or clubbing when abroad.

Tulips

walkinaround; where are you not required to carry your driver's license while driving? I know that you are required to do so in the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands; I thought this was mandatory throughout Europe?
In some countries you are required to carry an id at all times.

Kayb95

I carry my DL whether I'll be driving or not. Usually don't need it, but as mentioned, we had to leave it once as a deposit on an audio guide at a museum.

My parents have also needed to show theirs a few times to get a senior discount (so they don't have to carry their passports around with them.)

suze

I've always carried my DL, figuring it would serve as a 2nd form of ID, and one that worries me less than my passport (clearly the more valuable of the two documents). Never have used it though, now that you mention it!

Patrick

I overheard a huge argument in Rome at the Borghese gallery. It seems a small group wanted to rent the audioguides and didn't have their passports or driver's licenses with them. They were refusing to leave a credit card with the attendants. I too have often left my driver's license as a "deposit" for things like audio guides. It sure beats leaving a passport or credit card.

walkinaround

tulips...

in the UK one does not need to carry a licence to drive in order to drive legally. most people do not carry theirs. the licence consists of two parts, one is a photo card like in the US and the other is a full sized A4 piece of paper that is not easily carried. the laminated card is next to useless without the paper. also, the card was just fully introduced about 5 years ago so many people do not even have a picture card licence but just a paper that is kept in a drawer at home. you only need to get the photo card when your licence comes up for renewal

walkinaround

hit post too soon.

i was not trying to nit-pick just pointing out that the licence is not nearly as important as it is in US where you have to show it to do just about anything.

i don't think it's a bad idea to carry it.

hsv

i am with walkingaround.

At least in Germany, a driver's licence is certainly <i> not </i> an officially valid ID.
While it may serve some purpose such as being a deposit in mueseums or whatever, it will not be accepted by authorities as a form of identification. It might unofficially help if you've lost your passport or (the separate ID- Card, which the Germans issue), but won't get you far. billyboy might have a point if he's referring to US consulates and embassies, but apart from those nobody will give a **** (and why exactly should they?) if he's American and therefore feels entitled to not carry an ID sanctioned by the authorities.

Intrepid1

I must be missing something here so help me out...those folks who wouldn't dream of leaving their credit card in a museum as &quot;security&quot; for an audioguide.....hmmmm

I suspect prior to this they've given their credit card to restaurants (did someone copy the number there????) at their hotel (did somebody copy the number THERE????) at stores (there???) etc., etc.

If you are worried about having your credit card or passport stolen then take along the drivers license...and let IT get stolen (like any of this is really going to happen).

billy_boy

Since drivers license is not an acceptable, nor widely popular form of ID, in Germany or UK,
then do Germans and British carry their passports/birth certificates/national police ID/take-their-parents-along-with-them-everywher-they-go as proof of identitification? Or perhaps it is not necessary to show proof of identification, at all, for anything in those countries?

I'm just curious as to whether an ID is required in these countries for anything and if so, what form?

Cobos

In Norway a DL will be generally accepted as picture ID as will debit cards/credit cards with pictures on them. And if you end up driving in Norway, if you do so without your DL and the police ask you for your license you will be fined around $100 for forgetting it (if I recall correctly).
[Funny anectdote, last time when my SO and I was in Chicago, we went to a liquer store and wanted to buy something. We were 26 and 27 respectively so sort of shocked when the guy behind the counter asked for IDs. Oh well my SO which was doing the buying, showed the guy her VISA/ATM card with her picture on it (which as mentioned is the normally used ID in Norway), but he wouldn't accept it. We were sort of bewildered since we hadn't expected this situation to come up and had left our passports at the hotel. I then asked the guy if he accepted DL's, and he said he did. So after showing him my Norwegian DL which I'm sure he didn't understand anything of he did allow us to buy it So the moral is that you newer know when you'll need a second type of ID.]

Sindre

walkinaround

billy...

i cannot speak for germany but i believe they do have a national ID card as mentioned above. UK is different.

Here in the UK, you generally do not require ID in day to day life. if you wish to pay by cheque, you show a cheque guarantee card (same as your debit card) whereby the bank guarantees honour of the cheque up to a certain amount. this process is less for ID than for guarantee purpose.

There is no national ID scheme in the UK (although it has been proposed and debated). You may also be interested to hear that the UK social security number/card is not used for anything but social security benefit tracking. it is not used for tax payment, identification, etc.

If you get stopped by the police, you are required to show up at the station to present your licence within one week or so. Presumably, they record your car's reg number in case you don't show.

Since the drinking age is 18 (and in many cases not enforced over about age 16) ID is not important at the bar. However, there is an age ID for young people.

In general, you are not &quot;tracked&quot; in the UK in the same way as you are in the US. Data protection laws prevent the kind of use/misuse of tracking data that is seen in the US. For example, you would never have to present your licence to return merchandise to a store as you sometimes need to do in the US. In the US, one feels naked or like a nobody if he is not carrying his ID/licence. In the UK, there is no such feeling. Interesting cultural difference i suppose.

cmt

&lt;&lt;little general questions&gt;&gt;

It sounded like this might be a thread all about Napoleon.