Indian Driving Licence | How to protect it & keep it from fading

mukeshgoel · 25th May 2022, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by mukeshgoel

I got my driving license renewed

Hi guys, please suggest how to keep my driving license safe. My previous license faded so much in last 10 years.

This is how it looked when new:

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This is how it looks now:

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It was kept in a leather wallet.

Any tips or suggestions?

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Sahil · 25th May 2022, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by mukeshgoel

Hi guys, please suggest how to keep my driving license safe. My previous license faded so much in last 10 years.

Simple, keep it safely in your locker and use digilocker

mukeshgoel · 25th May 2022, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sahil

Simple, keep it safely in your locker and use digilocker

Thanks. Already have it in digilocker and mparivahan but it is good to have it in wallet to use it as an ID document.

Maky · 25th May 2022, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by mukeshgoel

My previous license faded so much in last 10 years.

I laminated mine after i noticed it had started to fade. It hasn't faded since, been about 6 years now.

bj96 · 25th May 2022, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maky

...been about 6 years now.

I am past that age where my renewed licence is valid only for 5 years. Have to renew and get a new plastic. No fading... Guess benefits of greying up comes in different shapes and sizes

-BJ

GTO · 26th May 2022, 08:40

Since years, I've been using a plastic cover like this one. No issues.

Indian Driving Licence | How to protect it & keep it from fading-81qiorynyxl._sl1500_.jpg

mukeshgoel · 26th May 2022, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Since years, I've been using a plastic cover like this one. No issues.

Thanks. That's a great idea. Will buy it asap.

Just one doubt, does the DL fit in this type of wallet with this sleeve on it?

Maky · 26th May 2022, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by mukeshgoel

Thanks. That's a great idea. Will buy it asap.

Just one doubt, does the DL fit in this type of wallet with this sleeve on it?

My laminated one does not, but only by a few millimeters so above GTOs solution just might.
I have to place mine in a sleeve behind the front credit card provisions, which your wallet may or may not have.

DicKy · 27th May 2022, 11:11

Kerala has it easy. We receive the DL laminated from the RTO itself.

Only thing is. It is not a card. Just two pieces of crudely cut paper glued together.

TSIched'Out · 27th May 2022, 13:29

Indian Driving Licence | How to protect it & keep it from fading-plastic-cover.jpeg

I use these covers for both DL and RC. These do their job satisfactorily. Ideally, one should not get chip/magnetic strip based DL and RC laminated but use some protective covers like these.
May be Team-BHP can offer these as T-BHP branded ones in its Store along with keychains and stickers

. Rush, Any thoughts?

condor · 27th May 2022, 15:34

I have got color plastic card copies of my RC and DL cards. The originals are at home.

I started this after my DL card broke when a staff was taking a photocopy when we wanted to visit a restricted place (visits were recorded though we had required reference to allow us entry).

GreasyCarb55 · 27th May 2022, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSIched'Out

May be Team-BHP can offer these as T-BHP branded ones in its Store along with keychains and stickers

. Rush, Any thoughts?

More than that I feel like a Team-BHP branded document pouch for cars and motorcycles would be better.

If you're gonna carry physical documents why not do it style with a sleek leather pouch that proudly say "Team-BHP" on it

Raghu M · 27th May 2022, 18:03

There is a simplest way to keep it safe. Take a color xerox of the original and laminate it. It looks exactly like the original. I have produced it to police outside TG too and no one questioned me to show the original. Keep the original in a file somewhere in your home locker. Do not keep it with other cards (like a pack of cards). Just keep it aside either between papers or leave as-is. All my original cards are at home. The duplicate ones are maintained in the cars/bikes. Never keep them in your wallet. I for one do not maintain a wallet (never did). I just keep some cash and my ATM card when I need it.

Dry Ice · 27th May 2022, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by mukeshgoel

Hi guys, please suggest how to keep my driving license safe. My previous license faded so much in last 10 years.

I applied for a duplicate one when mine started fading.

The process is largely painless, since there are no change in details. I visited the RTO only for the photo. A nice bonus that - an updated photo since I don’t really look like my 18 yo self now.

Chetan_Rao · 27th May 2022, 19:41

I've tried using transparent covers in the past, doesn't stop fading over time as colors bleed off the card and stick to the film eventually. Last time I tried to extract mine from its cover, my photo and details came clean off the card and onto the film instead, like a projector slide.

Had to get a copy issued from the RTO.

I've had it in the ID holder pocket of my slim wallet for nearly a decade now. The photo has faded a bit, but doesn't look much like me now anyway so doesn't matter.

P.S. Best thing to preserve longevity of ID (and cards in general), stop sitting on them! Wallets in back pockets are bad for your posture/spine too.

26th May 2022, 08:40	#6
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,879 Thanked: 323,174 Times View My Garage	Re: Indian Driving Licence \| How to protect it & keep it from fading Since years, I've been using a plastic cover like this one. No issues.
	(10) Thanks

27th May 2022, 11:11	#9
DicKy Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TVPM Posts: 4,451 Thanked: 15,699 Times	Re: Indian Driving Licence \| How to protect it & keep it from fading Kerala has it easy. We receive the DL laminated from the RTO itself. Only thing is. It is not a card. Just two pieces of crudely cut paper glued together.
	(12) Thanks

27th May 2022, 13:29	#10
TSIched'Out BHPian Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Mumbai Posts: 183 Thanked: 349 Times	Re: Indian Driving Licence \| How to protect it & keep it from fading I use these covers for both DL and RC. These do their job satisfactorily. Ideally, one should not get chip/magnetic strip based DL and RC laminated but use some protective covers like these. May be Team-BHP can offer these as T-BHP branded ones in its Store along with keychains and stickers. Rush, Any thoughts?
	(8) Thanks

27th May 2022, 15:34	#11
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 16,242 Thanked: 16,903 Times View My Garage	Re: Indian Driving Licence \| How to protect it & keep it from fading I have got color plastic card copies of my RC and DL cards. The originals are at home. I started this after my DL card broke when a staff was taking a photocopy when we wanted to visit a restricted place (visits were recorded though we had required reference to allow us entry).
	(1) Thanks

27th May 2022, 18:03	#13
Raghu M Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Hyderbad Posts: 1,101 Thanked: 3,921 Times	Re: Indian Driving Licence \| How to protect it & keep it from fading There is a simplest way to keep it safe. Take a color xerox of the original and laminate it. It looks exactly like the original. I have produced it to police outside TG too and no one questioned me to show the original. Keep the original in a file somewhere in your home locker. Do not keep it with other cards (like a pack of cards). Just keep it aside either between papers or leave as-is. All my original cards are at home. The duplicate ones are maintained in the cars/bikes. Never keep them in your wallet. I for one do not maintain a wallet (never did). I just keep some cash and my ATM card when I need it.
	(2) Thanks

27th May 2022, 19:41	#15
Chetan_Rao Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,808 Thanked: 28,352 Times	Re: Indian Driving Licence \| How to protect it & keep it from fading I've tried using transparent covers in the past, doesn't stop fading over time as colors bleed off the card and stick to the film eventually. Last time I tried to extract mine from its cover, my photo and details came clean off the card and onto the film instead, like a projector slide. Had to get a copy issued from the RTO. I've had it in the ID holder pocket of my slim wallet for nearly a decade now. The photo has faded a bit, but doesn't look much like me now anyway so doesn't matter. P.S. Best thing to preserve longevity of ID (and cards in general), stop sitting on them! Wallets in back pockets are bad for your posture/spine too.
	(6) Thanks