DVLA making big change to everyone's driving licences but millions are in the dark

Wales Online

24-04-2025

DVLA making big change to everyone's driving licences but millions are in the dark
The change will make use of security features that are built into modern smart phones, but many people don't know it's coming, a survey has claimed
How the new Gov.uk wallet will look
(Image: PA )
More than half of UK drivers surveyed as part of a recent poll have no idea about a major DVLA change which will soon be implemented. A new digital driving licence service is expected to be rolled out this summer, allowing people to show their photocard on mobile devices instead of carrying the physical counterpart.
But, despite the announcement coming in January, which WalesOnline reported on at the time here, a 1,000-person survey carried out by Regtransfers, a private number plate supplier, found that 57% were uninformed about the impending digitalisation. Traditional physical documents will remain available, however.
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CEO of Regtransfers, Mark Trimbee, explained: "There's no escaping the fact that our lives are being lived in an increasingly digitised space. Putting our driving licences on our phones feels like a natural next step, especially when so many of us already rely on mobiles for everything from banking to boarding passes. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here
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"That said, a driving licence isn't just another app - it's a key part of our identity. Our data shows that a lot of people still don't know much about the government's proposed changes.
"That kind of gap in awareness can naturally lead to concerns or reluctance to adopt. It's important the government takes the time to explain how it all works, what the benefits are, and - perhaps most importantly - how people's data will be kept safe.
"The more informed people are, the more confident they'll feel about using these new tools.
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"I think people should be free to choose whatever they feel most comfortable with.
"While a digital driving licence certainly would be convenient in many cases, a card licence doesn't run the risk of being completely inaccessible if my phone breaks or runs out of battery."
The technology will make use of security features that are built into modern smart phones, including facial recognition checks similar to those used when people pay using a digital bank card. It means that digital documents will be more secure, even if a device is lost.
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Digital documents held in the GOV.UK Wallet, like a driver's licence or someone's proof of benefits, will be able to be used just as physical documents are, if people choose to. It will be available on i.OS and Android.
The GOV.UK Wallet will allow digital credentials to be accessed immediately after successful application, rather than waiting for them to arrive in the post, and avoid valuable documents being lost in house moves or behind filing cabinets.
A mobile driver's licence will be piloted later in 2025, and all government services will have to offer a digital alternative alongside paper or card credentials by the end of 2027 under plans set out by the blueprint for digital government.
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It comes alongside a planned summer, 2025, launch of a GOV.UK app designed to make it even simpler for people to navigate the GOV.UK website, access government information and complete essential tasks from their phone.
The new GOV.UK App will remember users' activity to offer a "more convenient, and personalised experience of interacting with government", with future additions also set to include an AI-powered chatbot, GOV.UK Chat, ways to make payments and timely notifications and reminders about services.