NSW to trial digital drivers’ licences

Your driver’s licence card could soon be on the way out along with rego stickers, if a pilot project of digital licences in NSW is successful.

Dubbo residents will be the first to try out the digital licences, which are accessible via smart phones during NSW government trial beginning in November and, if successful the scheme could be rolled out across the state by 2019.

Like the traditional card licence the virtual version can be used as ID for police roadside checks and as proof of age identity at private establishments such as pubs and nightclubs.

NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said the trial is “an opportunity to demonstrate the additional levels of identity security and increased protection against identity fraud that a digital licence provides compared to a physical one”.

Minister for Finance, Services and Property Dominic Perrottet said digital licences can be checked using a purpose-built checker app and stressed that the platform was secure and used “multi-tiered security features” similar to those used by phone banking applications.

The NSW digital driver’s licence scheme is part of a $12 million project which has already introduced digital fishing and boat licences and proof of Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) competency.

Participation in the trial is optional but Dubbo residents are encouraged to be the first in the country to use the technology and register for the trial, which will help implement the state-wide rollout.

To use their digital driver’s licence, participants will need to install an application, register a MyServiceNSW account and add their NSW driver licence details.

So far, South Australia is the only other state close to rolling out similar technology through its mySA GOV app, which could incorporate driver’s licences by the end of the year.