Digital driving licences will be 'game changer' for millions of drivers - they're coming soon
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Digital driving licences stored in a new government app on smartphones that can be used to prove a person’s age are to be made available this year, the Government has confirmed. The new Gov.uk. app is being launched this summer, and it's set to include a GovU.K. "wallet" that will store your digital government papers, beginning with veteran cards and then a test run of driving licences later this year.
This high-tech wallet will tap into the security gadgets of today's smartphones, using facial recognition tech not unlike the way people tap and pay with their digital bank cards. Opting for the digital route is purely voluntary, the officials have reassured, maintaining physical documents for those who want them.
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said that by the end of 2027, the Government hoped to have a range of documents available inside the wallet, including DBS checks and every other credential issued by the government. He 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.".
