New driving licences to cost more

The island's current pink paper licences will be replaced with cards

The cost of a driving licence in Jersey is likely to rise with the introduction of new credit card-style documents.

The new licences, which are due to be issued from next February, are being introduced so they comply with the rest of Europe.

Licences will still be issued at parish halls, but processed in St Helier.

The licences, which will be valid for 10 years instead of the present five, are expected to increase to £40 from the current £25.

Forgery attempts

It is also hoped new licences will stop some young people trying to drive illegally.

The Driving and Vehicle Standards Department said some teenagers had tried to forge the island's current pink paper licences.

The head of the department, Alan Muir, said the new licences could also be used as a form of identification.

He said: "They can obviously also be used for identity purposes in exactly the same way as a passport is used because they will have very secure features on them."

The States still has to give final approval to the new licences.