Possibility to travel inside Schengen states without passport

Hi everyone,

I’m an Indian citizen living in Germany with a German permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis). I recently submitted my passport for renewal at the Consulate General of India Frankfurt, so my passport is currently with the consulate.

I received the payment receipt and appointment confirmation, but obviously I do not have my passport with me at the moment.

I am planning to travel from Germany to Slovenia by car, which is within the Schengen Area.

My questions:

Is it legally allowed to travel within Schengen without a passport if it is currently held by the consulate for renewal?

Would my German residence permit card + a copy of my passport + consulate receipt/letter be sufficient if checked by police?

Has anyone here travelled inside Schengen while their passport was at a consulate for renewal?

I know there are usually no border checks within Schengen, but I’m unsure about the legal requirements if I’m stopped by police or for ID checks.

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

Thanks!