Victorian drivers will soon be able to carry their licence on a mobile phone, in a move that follows the lead of several other states.
It comes after 15,000 Ballarat residents downloaded their licences to the Service Victoria or myVicRoads app as part of a six-month trial.
Minister for Roads Melissa Horne announced on Saturday that the upgrade would be rolled out statewide next month.
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More than 4.5 million fully licenced drivers will be first eligible for the switch, followed by learners and p-platers by 2025.
Consultation with organisations that rely on photo identification including bars, restaurants, retailers and police will ramp up throughout April.
Horne said the digital switch was aimed at providing convenience.
“Our digital driver licences will make it easier for Victorians when they go about their day-to-day lives — whether that’s driving around, renting a car, collecting a parcel or visiting a licensed venue,” she said.
Minister for Government Services Gabrielle Williams said drivers in the state had been calling on the government to follow other states’ lead.
“Victorians have been asking us for a digital driver licence,” she said.
“From next month millions of Victorians can access them on their phones alongside other government-issued cards like a Working with Children Check, seniors card or fishing licence.”
Digital licences have undergone lengthy privacy and security testing, the government said.
Each also features a timed QR code businesses and authorities can scan to verify authenticity and prevent fraudulent use.
The licences can be updated in real-time if there are changes to licence conditions or personal information like home addresses.
Victorians who have downloaded either the VicRoads or Services Victoria app will automatically receive their digital licence through their app once it has been processed in May.
Queensland introduced a similar digital licence last year which allows people to use an app to store their driver’s and marine licences as well as proof of ID.
South Australia launched digital licences in 2017 followed by NSW two years later.
