NSW Could Soon Introduce Digital Drivers Licences

These days, a simple flash of your smartphone can let you pay for stuff without tapping your debit card, see a gig without a hard-copy ticket and even split dinner bills without carrying around a heap of cash. And for NSW residents, it could soon mean leaving that old drivers licence card at home, if legislation is passed allowing for a state-wide rollout of digital licences.

The legislation will be introduced to State Parliament later this month, following a successful trial of the digital licences in Dubbo. If it's passed, any NSW driver would be able to access a digital version of their licence via the Service NSW app on their phone, eliminating the need to carry the original card. It's proposed the digital licences could be accepted as proof of identity at police roadside checks, as well as proof of age to get into bars and clubs, and could help reduce identity fraud. It will be an opt-in service, and all drivers will still be issued with a card regardless.

According to Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello, the proposed legislation shows the NSW Government is moving with the times. "Smartphones have become de facto wallets and we're using cutting edge technology so that drivers can use a digital licence in everyday scenarios," he said.

Plans for to make the switch to digital were first announced back in 2016, but South Australia has since beaten NSW to the punch, introducing digital licences late last year.