In the future, drivers in the United Kingdom may be able to store their driver's licenses digitally in Apple's Wallet app, bringing Apple one step closer to fully replacing the traditional physical wallet.

Oliver Morley, CEO of the UK's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, showed off a prototype version of a digital driving license on Twitter this morning (via The Independent). In the image, the Wallet app on the iPhone was shown with a virtual copy of a UK driving license, stored right next to other Wallet cards.

passbookdrivinglicenseuk


According to Morley, the feature is still a prototype and will not serve as a full replacement for a driving license, but an add-on, with its implementation possible following the discontinuation of a paper driving license counterpart in June of 2015. Security is one of the main priorities for the introduction of the digital driving license in the UK.

Should the digital driving license feature be introduced in the United Kingdom, it's not a stretch to imagine it also being introduced in additional countries like the United States as the digital wallet concept grows in popularity. In fact, at least one state in the United States is already testing the idea - in 2014, Iowa said it was working on a digital app that would allow customers to use digital ID cards instead of physical cards.

Tags: DVLA, Wallet

Top Rated Comments

garirry Avatar
111 months ago
I think it's awesome, as long as paper licenses still exist and people can place them somewhere safe in case the iPhone battery dies or something.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Phil A. Avatar
111 months ago
Fantastic news, and as you say, one step closer.

I currently leave the office on occasion to lunch without my wallet (all good except for damn you, Sainsbury's), using Apple Pay on my watch as my preferred payment method. I'll soon be able to go for a drive without it too.
I often drive without my license on me - there's no legal requirement to carry one in the UK: If you get stopped you have 7 days to produce it at a police station.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zahuh Avatar
111 months ago
Love it! If anyone from Apple reads this, please also add school/faculty IDs. Can't wait to get rid of my physical wallet.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Boatboy24 Avatar
111 months ago
It'll be another 50 years before a US State adopts something this advanced. :rolleyes:
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
111 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/13/uk-digital-driving-license-wallet/')


In the future, drivers in the United Kingdom may be able to store their driver's licenses digitally in Apple's Wallet app, bringing Apple one step closer to fully replacing the traditional physical wallet.

Oliver Morley, CEO of the UK's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, showed off a prototype version of a digital driving license on Twitter ('https://twitter.com/omorley1/status/731110689939587072') this morning (via The Independent ('http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/driving-licence-could-be-added-to-apple-wallet-turning-drivers-iphone-into-an-id-a7028346.html')). In the image, the Wallet app on the iPhone was shown with a virtual copy of a UK driving license, stored right next to other Wallet cards.




According to Morley, the feature is still a prototype and will not serve as a full replacement for a driving license, but an add-on, with its implementation possible following the discontinuation ('https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-licence-changes') of a paper driving license counterpart in June of 2015. Security is one of the main priorities for the introduction of the digital driving license in the UK.

Should the digital driving license feature be introduced in the United Kingdom, it's not a stretch to imagine it also being introduced in additional countries like the United States as the digital wallet concept grows in popularity. In fact, at least one state in the United States is already testing the idea - in 2014, Iowa said it was working on a digital app ('https://www.macrumors.com/2014/12/11/smartphone-drivers-licenses-iowa/') that would allow customers to use digital ID cards instead of physical cards.

Article Link: UK Developing Digital Driving License Stored in Apple Wallet App ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/13/uk-digital-driving-license-wallet/')
Government ID: the final frontier.

There are several ways to ensure that digital IDs aren't tampered with and not simply photoshopped copies. Have the data such as photo and information on a government server. When an official like a traffic cop requests your ID, you show it to them, they scan a randomized QR code that then independently downloads the ID to their own device. If the two don't match perfectly, it's a fake.

This could end up being more secure than physical drivers licenses and end the fake ID market once and for all.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hlfway2anywhere Avatar
111 months ago
Not to go all conspiracy theorist here but in the US, I believe you are required to produce identification is requested from the authorities. BUT, if it is in a phone that you must unlock to show them and another physical form does not exist, then it will be pretty hard to say, "yea, i forgot my password so you can't get into my phone." But, I also am guessing if you are in that situation, you'll just give the finger to anyone and everyone at that point just in case.
you don't need to unlock the phone to access Wallet.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
airtag purple

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year With These New Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
Magic Mouse Next to Keyboard

No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

Sunday November 17, 2024 3:03 pm PST by
While the Logitech MX Master 3 is a terrific mouse for the Mac, reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers that mouse over the Magic Mouse are false. The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day. Soon after, The Verge's Wes Davis attempted to replicate using every Apple product in a single day. During that...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Surpass iPhone 6 as Thinnest iPhone Ever

Monday November 18, 2024 1:07 pm PST by
In a research note with Hong Kong-based investment bank Haitong today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said he agrees with a recent rumor claiming that the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" will be around 6mm thick. "We agreed with the recent chatter of an 6mm thickness ultra-slim design of the iPhone 17 Slim model," he wrote. If that measurement proves to be accurate, there would be ...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.1.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:52 am PST by
The iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates that Apple released today address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit vulnerability had the same issue with maliciously crafted...