Drivers renewing their licenses or those applying for the first time this year will not be able to bring along their own photos.

A European credit card-style licence is being phased in here from January 19th.

It means you will no longer be able to use your regular chemist or photo booth image.

Instead it will have to be taken by the company appointed by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to process the licences.

The National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) says the new licence will be standardised and therefore easily recognisable across Europe.

It also says that because it is plastic, smaller and carries a microchip - it will be easier to carry and more secure.

From next Saturday all new and renewable learner permits and driving licences will be issued in this plastic credit-card sized format instead of paper.

Presently learner permit and driving licence applications are handled by local authority Motor Taxation Offices.

This will still be the case for much of 2013 with the service being transferred to the NDLS by September this year.