Government confirms digital driving licence launching this year

The Government has confirmed it will launch a Gov.uk virtual wallet and app for services and documents, including a digital driving licence, this year.

It comes days after Fleet News reported that the Government was looking to introduce the technology in an effort to transform public services.    

The digital driver’s licence will be one of the first digital documents in the Gov.uk wallet following the issuing of a digital veteran card.

The technology will make use of security features that are built into modern smart phones, including facial recognition checks similar to those used when people pay using a digital bank card. It means that digital documents will be secure, even if a device is lost, says the Government. 

Showcasing the tool today (Wednesday, January 22), the science secretary, Peter Kyle, explained that by the end of 2027, the Gov.uk wallet will include documents and credentials issued by the Government for those who choose to use them, while traditional physical documents will remain available.

Kyle said: “Along with CDs, the Walkman and flip phones, the overflowing drawer rammed with letters from the Government and hours spent on hold to get a basic appointment will soon be consigned to history. 

“Gov.uk wallet will mean that every letter or identity document you receive from the Government could be issued to you virtually.

“For people who choose to use Gov.uk wallet, they will find it easier to prove they’re entitled to benefits or check their age when buying alcohol or DIY equipment, with more security and trust than ever before. 

“Crucially, it also opens huge opportunities to make interacting with public services much easier by putting people in control of their own data.”

The wallet and app come alongside other new ways for people to interact with Government digitally, with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) becoming home to a revamped Government Digital Service (GDS), which will use digital tools and data to help the taxpayer benefit from £45 billion in efficiency savings.

Kyle continued: “We will be overhauling how the public sector uses technology which is essential to delivering our Plan for Change, and in combination with this new tech for people to use themselves, we are going to slash the time people waste dealing with annoying processes so they can focus on what matters to them.”

The digital driver’s licence will be piloted later this year and all Government services will have to offer a digital alternative alongside paper or card credentials by the end of 2027 under plans set out by the blueprint for digital Government.  

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

“The innovation puts power back in the hands of the people, making everyday interactions faster, easier, and more secure. We are delivering on the Plan for Change by making public services work for everyone.”

When people first open the Government’s new app this summer, they will be able to build a personalised homepage of the services most useful to them by answering a handful of questions - for example, if you own a car you can opt to see information about getting an MOT or applying for road tax.

Notifications will also provide people with instant and timely alerts, for example an update on the status of their application, or a new policy or service relevant to them. 

The Government’s generative AI chatbot, Gov.uk Chat may in future be added to the app to help people find answers to complex and niche questions, where the relevant information could be spread over dozens of pages.