Drivers licence....to carry or not?

I have been meaning to ask this for ages. In the US we all know we have to carry our licences when we drive but my husband said here we dont have to. He said if we get pulled over we can take our licence to the police station within a certain period of time. OK so if we carry our licence all the time wouldnt it avoid us having to schlepp to the police station? Or is it required we appear at the police station with it?

Good question.  This is what my husband has told me, as well.  It's not an issue for us right now anyway as we don't have a car at the moment and are walking and catching the bus or train to everywhere we need to go.

I do know that it is within 7 days that you have to show up at the station with your insurance, registration and licence.

But, yeah, it would just be easier if they were carried around. 

Well recently the police were spot checking every few cars on our street and the drivers were handing something over I just dont know what it was. I thought it must have been their licence. We dont carry anything in our car. Not even proof of insurance. Weird.

I got pulled over once and i did have my licence with me, but the polis didnt want to see it!
They just wrote up the ticket, and told me to take my licence to the station within 7 days.
I dont bother carrying it anymore, but i do carry proof of insurance in the car.   I have it in my head that i would need that if i were in an accident, but i dont really know for sure...

There is no legal requirement to carry your license, proof of insurance, inspection certificate, or car registration with you when driving here.

As noted though, if stopped by a police officer he may give you a slip which requires you to show the relevant items at a police station of your choice within 7 days.

I usually carry everything in my car anyway, as it just seems more sensible to have everything to hand if required.

but i do carry proof of insurance in the car.   I have it in my head that i would need that if i were in an accident, but i dont really know for sure...

You need to exchange details of your insurance with the other driver, but there's still no legal requirement to actually have the certificate with you.   If you don't have the details to hand in the unfortunate event that you are involved in an accident, all that you can do is let the other driver have your name, address, vehicle license number, etc.  The insurance companies will sort it all out afterward.

When we had our old banger, DH got pulled over.  He was freaking b/c he was still in the 2 year probation period after you get your license and was terrified of getting points.  He also wasn't speeding.  They asked to see his license and he gave him his proof of insurance as well, then they came back and apologised, saying there'd been a rash of thefts of cars the same make and model in that area (a bad one) and that's why they'd stopped him.  He shook all the way home, poor soul. 

even if you hand the cop your licence he will probably give you the form to produce your documents at the police station anyway - just to see whether you turn out not to have any insurance (which many young drivers don't these days). Leaving all the documents in your auto is not a good idea - if it gets stolen you've lost all the papers you need to make a claim, and made it easy for the thief to convince the cop who stops him that it's really his.