Digital driving licences are being introduced to simplify access to important services and documents. The new digital licences will be introduced in 2025.
Drivers will access their digital licence on a new government smartphone app called Gov.uk, which will prove their right to drive.
How will the new driving licences work?
Drivers will be given the choice of using a physical or digital driving licence. The digital one will allow drivers to view their driving record, check endorsements, and renew their licence easily via the app, as part of a "wallet", secured similarly to many banking apps using biometrics and multifactor authentication. This will ensure only genuine licence owners have access.
What will I be able to use my digital licence for?
Digital licences won't only be able to prove your right to drive but will also likely be accepted as ID when buying alcohol, boarding domestic flights and voting, among other scenarios.
Will physical identification be a thing of the past?
Physical identification's unlikely to be replaced entirely, at least not any time soon.
The government is, however, likely to expand the app to include other services, such as tax payments and benefits claims.