It will see the biggest change to driving licences for years
Motorists will be able to store digital driving licences on their smartphones later this year as part of a new government app, it has been confirmed. The GovU.K. app, which is set to launch this summer, will allow users to access various government services and store digital versions of official documents in a secure “wallet”.
Initially, the app will support veteran cards, followed by a pilot for driving licences. The digital licences will utilise advanced security features, such as facial recognition, similar to those used for mobile payments.
While the digital option will be available, physical documents will still be an option for those who prefer them. The government aims to expand the range of documents available on the app by the end of 2027, including DBS checks and other government-issued credentials, according to Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.
“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,” Mr Kyle said.
“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. 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.”
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.”
The digital update comes alongside plans announced to make £45 billion in efficiency savings by using digital tools and data to upgrade public services, including introducing AI tools to the Civil Service to speed up work in Whitehall. The new package of AI tools – nicknamed ‘Humphrey’ – will be available to civil servants in an effort to modernise tech and deliver better public services to set the country on course for a decade of national renewal.
This follows a review which found that the government inherited what it called a dire system that over-relies on ways of communicating that “should be left in the last century” – with HMRC taking 100,000 calls a day and DVLA processing 45,000 letters.