Digital driving licence trials begin this month in the UK and here's what it means for you
DIGITAL versions of the UK driving licence are being tested this month with a possible rollout taking place next year.
From 2018 we could all have digital driving licences on our smart phone
Soon you could have a digital version of your driving licence if a trial taking place this month is successful.
DVLA is trailing a BETA version throughout September which would allow motorists to be able to carry a copy of their licence with them if they forget their purse or wallet.
With payment services such as Apple Pay and Android Pay gaining prominence the inclusion of a digital licence could mean your wallet becomes redundant.
The team behind the development said that the service would be “quick, easy and secure.”
So here's a little prototype of something we're working on #drivinglicence pic.twitter.com/a5eItrdiNI
— Oliver Morley (@omorley1) May 13, 2016
Currently the scheduled launch date is in April 2018.
This service will be available 24/7, wherever the driver has a web connection
The DVLA did preface the release of the digital licence by claiming that it will not replace the plastic card.
In a statement releaed earlier this year they stated: “During 2017/18 we will be developing a quick, easy and secure service to allow customers to view a representation of their driving licence on their smartphone.
“The driver will be in control of their data and this can be used to share and validate driver information with trusted third parties through a secure website.
“The digital licence service will only be available to driving licence holders who have authenticated themselves on gov.uk through the existing driving licence.
In a photograph tweeted at the time of its revelation it revealed that the digital licence would appear in the Apple Wallet, where bank cards, plane tickets and store loyalty cars are usually found.
“This service will be available 24/7, wherever the driver has a web connection.”