Digital driving licences coming this year
The UK Government is set to introduce digital driving licences – here's everything you need to know
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By Tia Harrison-North
Last updated: 23 May 2025
Digital driving licences will be rolled out later this year by the UK Government, so you can show your ID right from your smartphone.
This is part of a new app called the ‘GOV.UK Wallet’ and won’t be the only ID that will be stored in our phones.
The first to be launched is a Digital Veteran Card, with driving licences following later in 2025.
The goal of the GOV.UK Wallet is to make people’s lives easier and make public services more efficient, and lines up with the European Union stating that each member country must introduce at least one form of digital ID by 2026.
All government services will have to offer a digital alternative alongside paper or card credentials by the end of 2027.
How will digital driving licences work?
The digital driving license will be a free version of the traditional plastic card ID that you can access through the GOV.UK Wallet smartphone app.
Two-factor security checks and smartphone biometrics will help keep the app secure, and it’ll be available on Android and iOS phones.
You’ll also be able to keep an eye on your renewal date and driving record all in one place.
Physical IDs will still be accepted and valid, and it won’t be mandatory to use a digital one.
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.”
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When will digital driving licences arrive?
So far, we know that the digital driving licence will be one of the first forms of digital ID available in the GOV.UK Wallet app.
This is set to launch towards the end of 2025, but no official date has been shared.
Digital ID already exists in Australia, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and some US states, so it’s only natural it comes to the UK too.
Why will the digital driving licence be useful?
It’s very convenient to have everything in one place. With the rise of apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay, adding your ID to your phone wallet seems a logical next step.
There’s also the bonus of the other features promised in the GOV.UK Wallet app.
You’ll be able to look at your driving records, keep up with renewals, and apply for road tax all in one place – that’s where the part about making public services more efficient comes in.
Concerns about digital driving licences
The shift to a digital ID will be easy for some people, but there are still some concerns.
Elderly drivers digital licence change
Research from the charity Age UK highlights that a ‘digital first’ approach can alienate older drivers, creating barriers for those not adjusted to technology.
One in three (31%) of over 60s find life much harder compared to five years ago because of the shift to online reliance, according to Age UK.
The digital licence won’t be mandatory, so those uncomfortable with technology can continue using the traditional, physical ID.
Access
Relying on your your smartphone for your ID brings up new things for us to think about after keeping a physical card on us for so long.
While most of us always carry our phones, there’s a chance it could be lost, damaged or the battery could run flat.
So, you might choose to keep your physical licence as a back up, which at least gives you a choice between the two.
Security
There’s a growing concern about online privacy and keeping personal IDs online might raise some eyebrows.
The government explained that ‘technology now makes it possible for digital identities to be more secure than physical ones’ and reiterated that digital ID won’t be mandatory.
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