After a successful trial, it has been announced that smartphone driver’s licences will be rolled out State-wide as early as August of this year. Every motorist in NSW will be able to use a digital driver’s licence on his or her phone in place of a plastic one, however there are no plans to phase out plastic licences at this stage, with the digital licence seen as an additional option.
“Smartphones have become de facto wallets and we’re using cutting edge technology so that drivers can use a digital licence in everyday scenarios,” Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said.
With a digital licence available, motorists won’t have to worry about remembering their wallet when leaving their house – isn’t that great! You can simply take your phone and not have to worry. The digital licence will be offered as an optional tool and can be used for identity and proof of age, as well as roadside police checks.
Digital licences will be downloaded onto a smartphone or tablet in the Service NSW app, which is available via touch or face ID, or a login. Users can also still present the digital licence even when there is no network coverage, as long as they have signed into the app once before.
I am sure all of you are wondering if there is an additional cost involved. The answer is NO. There will be no additional cost for the digital version of the licence for individual motorists. In the early stages, drivers are advised to still carry their plastic licence as the scanning technology rolls out in pubs and clubs.
The digital driver’s licence also will not work interstate or internationally, however the government is working with state and territory governments across the country to allow them to be accepted outside NSW.
The Digital Licence has been trialled for many months and more than 14,000 drivers in Dubbo, Albury and in the eastern suburbs have determined whether it is a viable option. 95% of the users in the Easter Suburbs recommended the digital licences for future use.
To be a part of the Statewide rollout, simply create a Service NSW account and download the mobile app.