Need for driver's license?

On the off chance your passport goes AWOL, it will be photo ID. Better than nothing

Strictly speaking, probably not. That said, there are times when having your DL from home is handy. If you lose your passport, for one (it would certainly help with the process of getting a replacement). Even without a 'crisis' need, sometimes having additional ID is useful...

In July, I was in Estonia. We were headed to check out a lighthouse. After an adventurous drive through some woods, we found the park with the lighthouse. But the lighthouse itself was still quite a ways distant, down a series of dirt roads and trails through sand dunes - which would have taken us hours to reach on foot. Fortunately, there was a guy there renting bicycles - just what we needed. He handed me two of them and asked for my ID. I gave him my Washington state drivers license, he smiled and waved us off, and away we rode. I would rather not hand my passport to a stranger out in the middle of nowhere. There are other times when I've left my license as security for an audio-guide in a museum or other things.

I look at it this way: I'm going to bring a wallet anyway. How heavy is my license? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Several times we have had to hand in a photo ID in a museum
to use/rent the audio guides. I remember doing that in the Villa Borghese in Rome. I prefer to give them my driver’s license rather than my passport which I leave in hotel safe. That is the only reason. This has happened in Europe and Asia.

And if handing them your DL makes you nervous -- I carry my expired DL to use with museum audio guides. No complaints yet.
EDIT: And yes, I do carry the current DL in my money belt right next to my passport and credit/debit cards.

I've used my DL for audio guides and proof of age. It's convenient to carry in my pocket and if it gets lost or stolen, and it's not a problem (unless I'm renting a car). And it's easy to replace when I get home. The only times I've ever needed to show my passport were when checking into hotels and at airports.

I am afraid a US DL is useless in Europe as it has no validity and it's neither a legal form of ID (officially speaking). Having said that, for "proving" your ID (or age) in minor things like renting a bicycle or getting a discount in a museum -if you qualify- it can be handy as your identity it's not that critical in those cases, it's rather a bureaucratic way of saying some "control" is being exercised.

Also note that when you're paying with your ccard (ie in certain supermarket chains), you can be asked to provide an ID, and only your US passport is a valid ID form, accepting your US DL is discretionary to the teller... but again small mom&pop shops might do it, but for big chains is very unlikely. Same with restaurants... some might accept it, others won't.

In some instances, a photocopy of your passport -while not an officially valid doc, only the real passport is- can be more effective than a US DL... especially if you have one of those from some states where the DL is quite "colourful"... which, to many here, it might seem a rather childish document (no offence please!), hence putting in question its real value. Ahh, you know, these Europeans we are rather uptight and too formal, LOL!.

Having said that... carrying a form of ID -officially valid or not- is always a good idea in case anything happens to you. Being able to be IDed always speeds up contact with your embassy and all that. Needless to say that if you get embroiled in an incident, whether your fault or not, only your passport will probably save you a lengthy procedure at the Police station.

And yes, there are still establishments where ID is not checked when paying with your "foreign" (non-EU issued) ccard, but there are fewer and fewer of those as ccard fraud regulations in Europe are very strict and since there is a lot of fraud with US cards, if the establishment doesn't check the ID they can end up having to return the bank the amount charged.

Lastly, I take the opportunity to remind you that in some countries (ie Spain) you need to carry a legal form of ID with you AT ALL TIMES. Failing to produce one if a Police Officer request so might yield you a trip to the Police station and even a fine. While asking to produce IDs out of the blue is rare, it does occasionally happen -ie if you're caught in the middle of a raid, or you're IDed as a 'person of interest' in a crime. For US citizens, the only legal form of ID valid here in Europe is the passport.... yeah, yeah, I know, "I've never taken it and nothing has ever happened"... right, but when it does, you've now been warned

Enjoy your travelling! :)

PS: When I say Europe, please read European Union, as other countries in Europe might have slightly different procedures and regulations. EU members have a "semi-harmonised" legislation which applies in all countries that are members of the EU.

... needless to say that " turning over your passport" is not an option but compulsory by law in many instances (ie. hotel registration).

Once when was studying in Japan with students from around the world my classmates told me it wasn’t necessary for me to carry my Japanese national insurance card. I said I might get hit by a bus and I want people to know i’m covered. They couldn’t stop laughing because only moments before they had the same conversation with the only other American in the group and he said “I carry my card because I might get hit by a bus.” This is also why (as my mother always told me) you should wear clean underwear—in case you get hit by a bus and you have to go to the hospital.

My real point is I always carry my drivers license. I feel naked without it.

How heavy is your drivers license really?

Unless you want to carry your passport 24/7, take your drivers license. Just a note. I carry a color printed photocopy of my passport. I needed it once on a short train trip when my actual passport was in my hotel safe. You never know when you will need an ID.

Which posters have been fined for not carrying passports when not in transit between accommodations? Not me.

No, but I've seen it happen. Ticket inspector on a train. The passenger did not have a ticket. The inspector asked for his ID (to write the fine and check he wasn't a multiple offender) - no ID either. The inspectors (his colleague who had been checking further down the train had by now joined him) then proceeded to escort the man off the train at the next station, saying they were taking him to the police station.

Always carry a quality ID. My question remains.

... I know there are a number of "rebel spirits" out there, always questioning and defying the rules and laws when you're abroad. We're all adults and we're all responsible for our actions. Now you know what the laws are, and my friend Chris can surely add a glimpse of Switzerland's too -which is not EU but has similar laws on many fronts- so if you still choose to ignore them and, for whatever reason you happen to get "caught" and taken to the Police station, don't come back whining about it ;)) I have also seen a few occasions in my life where tourists have been taken away for not carrying a proper ID... and sadly, one of them was in the aftermath of the terrorist attack of last year. You never know when you can be asked to produce it... will you risk having an uncomfortable time during your vacation? Just sayin'

David, you're EXACTLY right

In a forum where some people admit to cutting the tags off their clothing to save weight this seems reasonable.

Take your DL if you will need it on return (to drive home, to stop at the grocery store and buy beer before going to your house, if your plane is diverted to a city 2 hours from home and you want to rent a car and drive home...I can come up with all sorts of unlikey uses). Take it if you want it for extra ID (i.e. museum audio guide deposit). Otherwise you wont use it, but as pointed out it won't cause any trouble to have it either.

there are still establishments where ID is not checked when paying with your "foreign" (non-EU issued) ccard, but there are fewer and fewer of those as ccard fraud regulations in Europe are very strict

That must not include France. I've been using my American CC their for decades, as recently as a few months ago, and never have been asked for an ID.

if the establishment doesn't check the ID they can end up having to return the bank the amount charged.

I don't normally get asked for ID when using a credit card either. I take my driver's license, like Chani, because I'd rather leave that at a museum desk for the audio guide or bike rental shop than my passport.

I leave my military ID at home. It's, hopefully, like getting struck by lightning but in the event of a hijacking, I wouldn't want to carry evidence of being military (now retired).

... although I forgot to mention, and it is important (sorry, my mistake!!) that this applies only to those using "traditional" old cards (with the magnetic strip)... with pin&chip there's no need to show any ID, and with p&c and contactless cards and purchases under 20€ you don't even need to enter any PIN number -at least with EU-issued ccards, I wouldn't know for sure with cards issued elsewhere.

Well, anyhow, my comments (re:ccards & IDs) are about to become irrelevant since most ccards issued nowadays are already p&c

As well as the point well-made above that you can use your use your licence as the "security" when borrowing an audioguide (and occasionally to get age/nationality discounts), I would just add that whilst you are not planning on driving, your plans might change. I know we aren't the only people who planned to use the railway from A to B, but when we arrived decided to hire a car and go from A to B via C instead. If nothing else, having your licence allows that flexibility - though in some countries you may need an IDP too.

Enric - By now, virtually all credit cards issued in the USA have been replaced with cards including a chip. I use credit cards extensively all over Europe, and have never once been asked for additional ID (and that was also true back before all the cards came with chips). Non-chipped cards are quite rare nowadays. But there is a grain of truth in what you're saying: if your card does not have a chip, if there's a fraudulent charge, the merchant is liable; if the card is chipped, the merchant is not liable, Visa/Mastercard is. This policy came into force (at least here in the USA) only after chipped cards were widely available. So merchants do have an incentive to be sure you are really the authorized user of the card, at least for old non-chip cards.

Bottom line: your drivers license weighs virtually nothing and takes up zero space. I see no rational reason to leave it at home, and several valid reasons for bringing it. YMMV.

There’s one other good reason to bring your drivers license: You won’t wake up groggy and jet lagged one morning, look at your wallet and panic thinking that you’ve lost it!

Yes @David, that's why I closed saying that my remarks were rapidly becoming obsolete as many countries are already in the realm of p&c cards these days :))

I wonder though about the credit unions and smaller regional banks in the US, is that the case also? I remember when I lived there -many years ago, I admit!- being shocked in disbelief by some banking practices (back then) such as not accepting cheques outside a certain radius from the bank, paying a fee for "checking my signature" when I cashed one outside my branch, or having ccards that were only accepted in an "area of influence" too.