Driving Licence Exchange Paper->Plastic

DaveA · #1 15.08.2008, 11:53

If there any reason to change my my-God-you've-been-here-a-long-time-even-though-you're-foreign paper swiss driving licence for a platic EU style card ? Is there any circumstance where it is important to be machine readable or something ?

dave

Sutter · #2 15.08.2008, 12:01

I HAD to change mine so i could hire a car, they told me they would not let me hire a car without an international licence

Goldtop · #3 15.08.2008, 13:20

	Quote:	DaveA
	If there any reason to change my my-God-you've-been-here-a-long-time-even-though-you're-foreign paper swiss driving licence for a platic EU style card ? Is there any circumstance where it is important to be machine readable or something ? dave

I, too, am in this fossilized paper category. The paper license was accepted by car rentals in US, Greece, etc.

Advantage and disadvantage of paper: your address is on it. Advantage because some foreign authorities find it comforting. Disadvantage, when you change address, you must send it in for endorsement. Maybe you switch, when you next move.

Castro · #4 15.08.2008, 13:37

I too have a fossilised Swiss driving licence.. but with my old Lausanne address on it. If I send it in to the change the address, will they send me back a plastic one?

DaveA · #5 15.08.2008, 13:39

Their "endorsement" consists of a rubber stamp saying "Address changed" and the date. Having moved several times, mine shows a collection of rubber stamps to confuse the enemy.

When you hire a car, it gets pretty tiresome, because they ignore your current address on the internet booking and insist on copying the address from your licence which is four house-warming parties out-of-date.

dave

	Quote:	Goldtop
	I, too, am in this fossilized paper category. The paper license was accepted by car rentals in US, Greece, etc. Advantage and disadvantage of paper: your address is on it. Advantage because some foreign authorities find it comforting. Disadvantage, when you change address, you must send it in for endorsement. Maybe you switch, when you next move.

gregv · #6 15.08.2008, 13:53

You can use the plastic one as ID in the US when you go out drinking.

DaveA · #7 15.08.2008, 13:57

As I am clearly jail-bait, it will therefore come in very useful.

dave

	Quote:	gregv
	You can use the plastic one as ID in the US when you go out drinking.

Sutter · #8 15.08.2008, 15:09

	Quote:	DaveA
	Their "endorsement" consists of a rubber stamp saying "Address changed" and the date. Having moved several times, mine shows a collection of rubber stamps to confuse the enemy. When you hire a car, it gets pretty tiresome, because they ignore your current address on the internet booking and insist on copying the address from your licence which is four house-warming parties out-of-date. dave

Where do you hire your car from? I meant when i went to the UK i had problems with the old licence

DaveA · #9 15.08.2008, 15:13

I've never had problems: Hertz/Budget/europcar/sixt(i)/alamo at ZRH/FRA/STN/FCH/LHR. Maybe its because I haven't aged...

dave

	Quote:	Sutter
	Where do you hire your car from? I meant when i went to the UK i had problems with the old licence

Sutter · #10 15.08.2008, 15:16

	Quote:	DaveA
	I've never had problems: Hertz/Budget/europcar/sixt(i)/alamo at ZRH/FRA/STN/FCH/LHR. Maybe its because I haven't aged... dave

Cheeky are you saying i have

Well i always had problems so i was told to get the plastic 1, now i have no problems

Goldtop · #11 15.08.2008, 20:16

	Quote:	Castro
	I too have a fossilised Swiss driving licence.. but with my old Lausanne address on it. If I send it in to the change the address, will they send me back a plastic one?

If you want plastic, you must ask and pay for it!

Irrespective of plastic or paper, you must immediately inform your local road-transport-authority of your new address.

Goldtop · #12 15.08.2008, 20:18

	Quote:	DaveA
	Their "endorsement" consists of a rubber stamp saying "Address changed" and the date. Having moved several times, mine shows a collection of rubber stamps to confuse the enemy. When you hire a car, it gets pretty tiresome, because they ignore your current address on the internet booking and insist on copying the address from your licence which is four house-warming parties out-of-date. dave

A modern nomad needs plastic. Paper is for stay-at-home fossils.

FriendlyKiwi · #13 15.08.2008, 22:08

	Quote:	DaveA
	If there any reason to change my my-God-you've-been-here-a-long-time-even-though-you're-foreign paper swiss driving licence for a platic EU style card ? Is there any circumstance where it is important to be machine readable or something ?

Dave, hold on to the old licence!

It will soon be as reverred as that old, tatty, faded, full-of-holes numberplate that some so proudly display on their spanking new Mercedes.

Here in CH, licence plates, and now licences, are like red wine...