I have read that you must have your passport with you when driving at all times, must say would not be happy or comfortable carrying such an important document every time I went out to say beach, shops etc.
Is a photo copy of passport OK to carry instead ?

For a UK national, the passport is the only official form of ID. Other nationalities can use their national ID card as an alternative if they have one.

A copy may be acceptable, but it should preferably be certified as a correct copy. Your town hall will usually do this for a couple of euros or a notary will also do it.

If you want to photo reduce it, do that before you get it certified.

Personally, I carry an A4 sheet with copies of my passport, driving licence and registration certificate, all on the same piece of paper.

Thanks Fred would much prefer to carry copies than originals

Just be warned that 'some' officials will not accept a copy whether it's certified or not.

That's true, but we are talking here about having ID in your car - Trafico are normally happy with certified copies.

I have never been asked to produce either my passport or a copy but I carry a notarised copy in my car just in case. If you have a spanish driving licence (with photo) I think that helps.

Yes, it's probably one of the best bits of ID you can carry, certainly as far as Trafico are concerned.

It proves who you are, it proves you are a resident (and don't have to pay fines on the spot) and also gives your NIE number. About the only thing it doesn't show is your address, but they will have that on their computers anyway.

I never carry my passport but always have my Spanish driving licence, my SIP card and a phyotocopy of my certificate of residencia in my purse.

Rosemary

I always used to carry our passports, but we were never asked to produce it in 7 years (apart from at tax office). Guardia only interested in my driving licence

In all the years we have lived here we have both always used our Spanish driving licences as ID, even the Guardia have been happy with that.
The only place we had to use our passport was at the Notary office.