"To know your passport is locked in a safe and then to use the card to fulfil other daily requirements is fantastic. I highly recommend it for all European travellers"
(JW London)

Your identity card will help to prove who you are in all kinds of situations:

• If you want to open a bank account or apply for a loan or mortgage
• When you are signing a contract, like a mobile phone contract or a car hire agreement
• When you want to buy age-restricted items, like DVDs, video games, alcohol or cigarettes
• When you go abroad. The National Identity Card can be used just like a passport when you travel within the European Economic Area and Switzerland
• When you want to go to clubs or films with age restrictions
• When you start a new job. Legally your employer must assure themselves of your identity in order to help them check you have the right to work in the United Kingdom
• When you apply for other Government services, such as housing benefits, national insurance and healthcare
• At the airport. In airports with automated gates that accept the card, getting through passport control could be quicker if you have an identity card

Here are some of the experiences reported by early adopters of identity cards about how and when they have used their card.

Saving untold earache

Peter was returning to the supermarket to pick up his bank card that he had lost there earlier. "Staff confirmed that they had the card but required some form of recognised identification before they would be able to hand it back. Returning home to get my passport would have meant a long journey in the snow (with three cold and hungry children) followed by a trip back to the shop. I suddenly remembered I had my National Identity Card with me. The convenient size of it means that I keep it in one of the credit card slots in my wallet. The card has my name and photograph and was readily accepted as proof of identity (with lots of interest) in the shop. Having an officially recognised way of proving my identity handy saved me a lot of time and untold earache!"
- PE, Kent

Traveller's tales

"More practical than a passport especially since many countries expect you to carry some form of identity card. My job takes me around Europe, and last week was my first trip with the new card. It was only to Portugal but it was more convenient and practical when having to show the card, protected but more accessible in my wallet (the card is more durable than a passport)."
- AS, Herts.

"I had one of the first they'd seen at the airport in Almeria, Spain. All the Spanish border control guys came over to look at it and they all knew what security features to check for (ultraviolet, tactile, visual)."
- JP, London

Katherine got in touch with us to say, "I needed to start using my identity card straight away - right after I got it. So, just to let you know, I travelled to Italy in November with Alitalia and encountered no problems at all with using my identity card. Transit through Milan was a breeze". She goes on to report, "Very soon after, I had to go to Brussels on business, via Eurostar, and I also used my identity card to pick up my ticket at the desk here in London. I did get a few interested questions, but the only people who asked me for my passport were UKBA (Heathrow). They were fine when I explained that this was my travel document and the supervisor confirmed that it was OK".
- KM, London

Cash crisis cover

"My bank debit card was stolen, so I used my new identity card when drawing out over the counter while waiting for my new card to arrive. A lot easier than taking passport to bank."
- CL, Manchester

Banking endorsement

I recently used my card as ID confirmation of a new detail set up at my bank. The card attracted a great deal of positive interest from the bank staff. Well done on an excellent and long awaited product.
- AJ, Wigan

Green light from the police

"My daughter had her purse stolen and some of the items from it turned up at Tottenham police station. I went there to pick these up and they asked me for proof of my identity. I showed them my ID card and they accepted it happily."
- VN, Tottenham

Age-related advantage

"I was buying cigarettes from a cashier in Somerfield when he asked me to prove my age. I showed my identity card and his manager came over and gave the cashier a briefing on all the security features and benefits of the card. The manager said they've all been told about the cards."
- CB, London

"My passport is getting really battered by me carrying it around as proof of age. With a National Identity Card, I can leave my passport at home and carry my ID card in my wallet instead."
- PF, Redbridge

Parcel pickup

"I went to our local sorting office to pick up a parcel, and they were quite happy to accept my identity card as proof of ID."
- MM, north London

"My ID card came in use when I picking up my recorded delivery from the post office which I missed in the morning post. The identity card was accepted without any enquiries."
- FM, West Yorkshire

Multi-tasking

"I have used mine to confirm my identity with my solicitor in the purchase of a new flat, to book a flight to Portugal online with Easyjet, to prove ID when travelling to Northern Ireland on business, and to travel to France by ferry. Very boring really but it has been accepted every time, no problems."
- JW, Kent

Have you used your identity card? How was your experience? Let us know by email.