UK Announces Digital Wallet for IDs and Driver's Licenses

The UK government today announced plans for a digital wallet that will house digital driver's licenses. It is not yet clear if the digital wallet that the UK government has planned will integrate with Apple Wallet, but UK users will be able to access their driver's licenses through a GOV.UK app on the iPhone when the initiative launches.

uk wallet app
The digital driver's license will allow users to prove their age when purchasing age-restricted items, and it will serve as proof of the right to drive. Personal information will be protected with Face ID or Touch ID for security even if a device is lost.

Along with driver's licenses, the UK digital wallet will eventually include veteran cards, DBS checks, and other documents issued by the government, but traditional physical documents will also remain available.

The UK digital wallet app is launching alongside a GOV.UK app that will feature a built-in "GOV.UK Chat" chatbot that is being created in partnership with OpenAI, and the chat service is already being tested. The chatbot will let UK residents make payments and receive notifications and reminders about government services.

In the United States, Apple has partnered with several states to bring digital driver's licenses and ID cards to the Wallet app on the ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch. Digital IDs are available in nine states, as well as Puerto Rico. At least six additional states have pledged future support for the functionality.

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Top Rated Comments

jlwarlow Avatar
10 weeks ago
Again the UK gov investing tax payers money duplicating ID wallet already available on iPhone and Android ?‍♂️ Why not use the wallets already out there and add driving license to those like some US states already have?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fivenotrump Avatar
10 weeks ago
or 'Driving Licence' as we say over here
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cupcakes2000 Avatar
10 weeks ago

Backdoor way to introduce a mandatory ID card.
Hardly. They would just introduce a mandatory id card if that’s what they wanted to do.


It isn't yet? Here in Germany everyone needs to have an ID or passport
You don’t need to carry ID in the UK. You don’t need to carry your driving licence either, even if driving. You have to produce it at a police station if pulled over and asked and you don’t have it though. And of course they know who you are anyway, from your license plate and insurance docs which must be carried.

*edit* not insurance docs either, I was mistaken
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sjdigital Avatar
10 weeks ago

and insurance docs which must be carried.
Since when? First I’ve heard of it.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
McKodiak Avatar
10 weeks ago

Again the UK gov investing tax payers money duplicating ID wallet already available on iPhone and Android ?‍♂️ Why not use the wallets already out there and add driving license to those like some US states already have?
I'm hoping this is similar to concert tickets where you have the ticketing app where you can access your tickets but you have the option to add to your apple wallet.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blahsua Avatar
10 weeks ago
Welcome to 2019 from your friends in Sydney, Australia; where we've had most of our state licences digital for a while.



The law was updated to reflect most, if not all, scenarios such as broken screens, flat batteries, and how to interact with police (they only have to sight it - not allowed to touch your phone).

https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-2020-27

On an Australian federal level, state digital licences are an acceptable form of ID with no discrimination between that and the the physical form.

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Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)