The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) announced that it is in the early stages of developing a “quick, easy and secure” digital driving license system for motorists.

A test version of the service will launch in September later this year, with plans to introduce it in full by April 2018.

The scheme was first announced by DVLA chief executive Oliver Morley in a tweet posted last May.

It contained a picture of a prototype for a digital license with the caption: “So here’s a little prototype of something we’re working on #drivinglicence”

The image shows an iPhone screen displaying a digital licence in the Apple Pay app, which is also used to make payments and store relevant documents.

Further details of the service can be found in the DVLA’s business plan for the next 12 months.
It reads: “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 license service will only be available to driving licence holders who have authenticated themselves on gov.uk through the existing driving licence service

“This service will be available 24/7, wherever the driver has a web connection.”

The DVLA has stated that it is not intended to replace plastic licences.

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