Digital driving licences could be rolled out this year and available on mobile phones, as experts consider the benefits and drawbacks of introducing such a scheme.
A digital version of the driving licence is expected to be available via a “GOV.UK” app following a “product launch” in central London next week.
The app version of the driving licence is expected to work alongside the photocard licence and could be accepted for proof of identity when purchasing alcohol and even for voting.
According to The Times, the digital licence scheme will be voluntary and drivers will continue to be issued with provisional and full photocard licences.
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The digital driving licence is understood to work alongside the photocard licence
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Reports suggest ministers are hoping the digital service will “drag the Government into the 2020s”, although it will not introduce a compulsory national ID card, as has been touted in recent years.
Speaking to The Times, Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said: “There are clearly some benefits of having a digital licence, especially if you are pulled over by the police and need to show your documents.”
Despite this, he noted that it may take some time before they can be used by Britons abroad and accepted by police forces and local authorities.
He said: “Drivers already feel embarrassed if they’ve left their licence at home when hiring a car on holiday, but they’ll be annoyed if their digital licence won’t be accepted.”
Drivers are not legally required to carry their licence when at the wheel, although they must provide it within seven days if a police officer requests to see it.
The Times reported that a source familiar with the plans said the aim was not to replace the photocard licence but to provide an alternative option.
The source added: “The photocard, be it a provisional or full licence, is the main form of ID used in the UK and this will be an extension of that.”
The digital driving licence will reportedly be contained within a virtual wallet inside the Government app, rather than being accessed through the Google or Apple wallet features.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) assists 52 million drivers and 46 million vehicle keepers across the UK and has dramatically increased its digital offering in recent years.
Motorists are now able to view their driving licence information, as well as the tax and MOT status of their vehicles online. Drivers can also benefit from digital reminders for their vehicle tax.
A Government spokesperson told The Times: “Technology now makes it possible for digital identities to be more secure than physical ones, but we remain clear that they will not be made mandatory.”
In 2023, the European Parliament confirmed several changes to EU driving licence rules which are aimed at improving road safety including a minimum two-year probationary period for younger drivers and mandatory health checks.
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The digital licence will reportedly be available on the GOV.UK app
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To support the EU’s single market, Members of the European Parliament are in favour of giving the possibility for motorists to get a digital driving licence.
This would allow them to have access to their licence on their mobile phone and would be fully equivalent to their physical driving licence.
