The groundbreaking change coming to your driver's licence
NSW motorists are now able to apply for digital driver’s licences.
The state is the second in the country to offer the digital format, following a successful volunteer trial in November 2017, after South Australia’s introduction.
Although the NSW Department of Customer Service confirmed to Yahoo News Australia the offical launch was yet to get underway, drivers keen to go digital can now do so through the Service NSW smartphone app.
“The NSW Government will soon announce the state wide rollout of the Digital Driver Licence. We are currently testing the technology for early adopters,” a spokesperson for the department said.
The Service NSW app is currently prompting users to sign up for a digital driver’s licence and it remains optional, but the website warns not to dispose of plastic licences just yet.
“It’s optional and doesn’t replace the plastic card,” the website states.
The benefits of a digital driver’s licence
The digital driver’s licence is available at no extra cost and, as it’s updated in real time, there is no waiting for the mail to arrive when a user updates their details.
Service NSW said the app was secure and also worked offline, so no data is needed to view the digital licence.
The website also states while the digital licence is a legal form of ID in NSW, it may take a while before all pubs and clubs are used to it.
“We recommend you still carry your card as a backup while venues get used to seeing and accepting the digital driver licence as identification,” Service NSW said.
Warning to drivers
Although digital licences are now available across the state, drivers are cautioned that road rules banning the use of mobile phones while driving will still be enforced and its best to wait until prompted by police before reaching for your device.
“It’s illegal to access your digital driver licence when driving, including when stationary, unless you’re asked to do so by a police officer,” the website reads.
Penalties include five demerit points for illegally using your mobile phone in NSW.
Service NSW did not provide an offical launch date for the digital driver’s licences.
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