Digital driving licences arrive soon: Will physical ID still be valid?

Forgetting your driving licence will soon be a thing of the past.

Digital smartphone driving licences are on course to arrive later this year, This is Money can confirm.

The major update is part of a new ‘GOV.UK Wallet and App’ that will prove your right to drive, your age, and access key government documents – but don’t panic if you want to stick with plastic because physical IDs will still be valid. 

The digitalisation reforms aim to ‘improve ways for people to interact with the Government digitally’ and help a push towards efficiency savings targets of £45billion.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said: ‘This is a game changer for the millions of people who use their driving licence as ID.’ 

So, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about getting a digital driving licence, including the pros and cons.

You won’t be getting your ID out anymore! The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has confirmed that digital driving licences are arriving later this year

When are digital driving licences coming? Is it compulsory to get one?

A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) spokesman confirmed to This is Money that a digital driving licence will arrive later this year.

‘The GOV.UK Wallet will be launched this summer with the first credential being a digital Veteran card.

‘Later in the year, we plan to begin rolling out a digital driving licence, which will eventually be usable for everything your paper licence is currently used for.

‘We’re working closely with DVLA and industry to meet this timeline.’

DSIT also confirmed to us that digital driving licences won’t be compulsory.

‘There are no plans to make the GOV.UK Wallet, or digitised documents mandatory, and physical documents will remain an option for those who prefer them,’ the spokesperson clarified.

Your digital driving licence will be access through your smartphone, via a GOV.UK Wallet app and you’ll be able to show it like you do your bank cards

What is a digital driving licence? And how does it work?

A digital driving licence is a free (no need to pay) electronic version of your driving licence that is accessible via an app on your smartphone.

It’s accessed through the Government’s online (GOV.UK) Wallet app and will be compatible with both i.OS and Android. 

Essentially, it’s similar to the new digital railcards.

You’ll be able to check renewals, your driving record and endorsements on the app too.

The app will use two-factor security checks already built into modern smartphones like facial recognition to make sure documents are secure and are only accessed by the right person.

The app will also remember users’ activity so you’ll have a more convenient and personalised experience, and in future there will also be an AI-powered chatbot – ‘GOV.UK Chat’ to help with services and payments.

What are the benefits of digital driving licences?

An estimated 50million Britons hold a full or provisional driving licence, so moving to a digital form comes with pros for some and cons for others.

Research by Quotezone recently found Britons are divided over the introduction of digital driving licences: 49 per cent of respondents welcome the change, but 47 per cent are against it. 

Having a digital driving licence on your phone makes it easy to show your ID and is a secure way to hold your licence, without the worry of losing it

There are some obvious benefits, with the first one being the fact you don’t have to carry around a physical ID. 

As banking, health services, and many other daily services are already on your phone it’s a handy natural step to have your driving licence on your phone too and not in a physical wallet.

Even if you lost your phone you can’t lose your app login and digital driving licence on the app.

A smartphone app is also easy to access, and will store all your driving licence details and documents in one place and under one login.

It also comes with enhanced security and two-factor authentication. 

You’ll be able to immediately cancel documents if you realise they’ve been stolen.

What are the concerns with digital driving licences?

Although there are many benefits, big changes like this come with considerations.

There’s a concern it’s another step towards a digital society that’s leaving older generations behind, in a similar way to how cashless parking is.

Car finance provider CarMoney is particularly worried that those without regular access to smartphones or the confidence to use them might struggle. 

Older drivers and people living in rural areas with patchy mobile coverage are likely to face the biggest hurdles. 

However, plastic driving licences will still be valid. Quotezone found 87 per cent of respondents prefer physical driving licences. 

There’s potential for access issues too, and there’s of…