The DVLA has announced that digital driving licences could be introduced in the UK by the end of 2025, with motorists able to hire a car with just their phone.Motorists across the UK have been warned that the DVLA could be making a huge change to the way they carry their driving licence.
The small plastic card is commonly carried around in wallets and purses, however some experts have predicted that a switch to a digital alternative may occur within 2025.In their 2024/25 Business Plan, the DVLA announced plans to roll out a new digital service that could be used for short-term vehicle usage, such as car rentals.They explained: “This year, we will introduce a new ‘Share my licence’ service through the account.”This will allow customers to generate a share code, which can be used for a variety of purposes including to confirm licence information for car hire companies.”Under the proposed idea, drivers who wish to temporarily use a car will be able to scan a unique code to quickly share their licence information.
This would likely include the amount of points a motorist currently has, whether they have previously been disqualified from driving, and a list of the vehicles each driver is entitled to use.As a result, firms such as hire car companies will be able to check whether a driver is safe behind the wheel and holds a valid licence at a much faster rate.In a blog post, the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA) highlighted that the change is unable to take place under current legislation, but it may be updated soon.They stated: “A digital driving licence is not currently valid in the UK. One cannot be presented solely as a proof of somebody’s driving entitlement.
“There is nothing within the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic at Annexes 6 or 7 about the validity of a digital permit, nor is there anything within other pertinent legislation.”Whilst fully digitised driving licences have yet to be introduced in the UK, there are a number of countries that allow motorists to store their details on their phone.
The first country to introduce the idea was Norway in 2019, with residents able to request a digital version of their licence by downloading a smartphone app.
However, digital driving licences are also widely used in countries including Denmark, Iceland, and several states in Amer
ica.