The digital driving licence and MOT changes

It has been confirmed by the DVLA that a huge change is coming up soon for driving licences and MOTs.

 

Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, has said that the UK government is now considering moving away from physical, hard copy driving licences altogether, in exchange for modern digital ones.

According to these new plans, a mobile app will be created for licences; this is set to launch in 2024 with provisional licences initially, and then full licences if it proves successful.

Furthermore, paper MOTs are also set to be replaced for digital versions as well, with Shapps announcing the plans via Twitter; “move provisional cards online, doing away with paper test certificates & bringing MOTs into the modern age".

He also added that EU rules had prevented the introduction of digital licences in the past, calling it a part of 'exciting new post-EU freedoms'.

"This is a golden chance to shake off the bureaucracy, invest in our future, and realise our potential with world-leading transport that benefits all of Britain."

As part of its strategic plan for 2021-2024, the DVLA have commented that they “will introduce a digital driving licence for provisional drivers and also start to build a customer account facility. This will ultimately give our customers personalised, easy and secure access to a range of services and allow them more choice in how they transact with us… our services will be secure, scalable and resilient and we will continue to explore and expand the use of emerging technologies."

The announcement has been welcomed in the most part, with Director of Motoring Research charity the RAC Foundation, Steve Gooding, commenting that “these days the one thing drivers are most likely to have with them is their phone.”

Gooding continues that “using it to carry their driver’s licence could be quite handy,” providing of course that the use of mobile phones is not exploited.