State’s new driver licence update leaves more states behind

Smartphones have become the Swiss Army knives of technology—from carrying everything from our calendars to our wallets, it's no surprise that digital driver licences are the next step in the evolution of convenience.

However, not all Australians are reaping the benefits of this modern marvel just yet.

As the latest updates roll out, millions are still in a waiting game, questioning when they can leave their physical cards at home.



Victoria recently joined the digital driver licence program on Monday, 13 May, with the program going live on Wednesday.

According to the spokesperson for the Victorian Government, ‘Around 200,000 Victorians have jumped on board and downloaded their digital licence on their phone within 48 hours of the state-wide launch.’


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Victoria is the latest state to release digital driver licence. Credit: Shutterstock



The Victorian Government also expressed excitement over the public's enthusiastic response, highlighting the readiness of over 4.5 million fully licensed drivers, motorcyclists, and heavy vehicle operators to embrace this change.

Eligible Victorians can access their digital driver licence after setting up their profile using the myVicRoads and Service Victoria apps.

Learners and P-platers will be able to transition to the digital alternative starting in 2025.

The digital license isn't just a static image of your physical card; it's a dynamic, real-time reflection of your driving status.



If your license is revoked or suspended, this will be immediately updated in the digital version.

The convenience extends to proof of identity, with police, businesses, and other authorities able to verify its authenticity through a timed QR code.

While Victoria celebrates this technological leap, the Northern Territory is gearing up for a pilot program set to commence in late 2025.

This leaves residents in the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia, and Tasmania in anticipation as they have yet to access digital licenses.



In NSW, the uptake of digital licenses is impressive, with 4.5 million people—nearly 75 per cent of drivers—using the digital option via the Service NSW app.

South Australia, the pioneer in this initiative, launched its digital license scheme in 2017, setting a precedent for other states.

Queensland, not far behind, rolled out its digital licenses in October of the previous year, marking another step forward in the nationwide adoption of the technology.



However, the path to digitalisation is not without its bumps.

Tasmania is still exploring the option, with no clear timeline in sight.

WA has made progress by awarding a 16-month contract to local software developers GenVis to create a digital license system.

In the ACT, despite mounting calls for digital licenses, there are no immediate plans to unveil the technology.
Key Takeaways
  • Victoria has introduced digital driver licences, with hundreds of thousands of residents downloading it within 48 hours of the launch.
  • The Northern Territory is set to pilot digital licences in late 2025, leaving the ACT, WA, and Tasmania as the jurisdictions without the digital option currently.
  • The digital licence will show real-time status updates and can be used as proof of identity, with its authenticity verifiable by a timed QR code.
  • Efforts are underway in the remaining regions without digital licences to explore the option, but for some areas, it may be some time before they are available.
What are your thoughts on the digital driver license rollout? Have you made the switch, or are you still waiting? Share your experiences and concerns with us in the comments below.
 
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We lived in NSW when they became available but were told you still had to carry your physical licence.
Now in Qld I have the digital and the bloody thing wouldn't open so had to show my physical card.
I wonder whether they can scan the phone at a club?
 
I'm so sick of everything digital, what's the use of you still need a physical card for when the internet goes down etc.
Society is getting dumber and dumber as they rely on technology and machines, calculators etc to think for them.
I remember hitting the roof when son's school book list said "calculators". I said he should use his God given brain for maths. This was 50 years ago when he went into first year High School. Things have got worse and only people our age seem to be the only one's who can use their brain. Any wonder why they say AI..... ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Anything artificial is not real so is BS. The only useful AI is used on animals to impregnate them.
 
Hundred of thousand NSW driving licences were leaked during recent data breach so people had to replace them and I suspect it was not free of charge. In Victoria I tried to download Licence to my Apple Wallet - did not find such option. In order to show you licence you have to run app - and this is required internet connection. A rhetorical question - what is going to happened if policeman ask you for licence and you phone is discharged?
 
I remember hitting the roof when son's school book list said "calculators". I said he should use his God given brain for maths. This was 50 years ago when he went into first year High School. Things have got worse and only people our age seem to be the only one's who can use their brain. Any wonder why they say AI..... ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Anything artificial is not real so is BS. The only useful AI is used on animals to impregnate them.
Power went down, the girl in our local Chinese takeaway couldn't add up what we owed
I added it up for her and then she said "but how do I know that's right? Really??
Then she couldn't work out how much change to give me??
I took my $50 note back, left the food and walked out.
Talk about BS, what's she doing working in a shop when she can't add up.
 
I’m looking forward to Tasmania having digital driver’s licenses. It will be so much more convenient as I often run friends a short distance home & would love to just pick up my phone, keys and go. I know that AI has downsides but there are benefits especially in the medical field.
 
Not every Pensioner has a mobile phone and it is easier to carry driving licence in your wallet, rather than carry another gadjet so called mobile phone and in the old age it is not that easy for old people to use digital technology, while I have a mobile phone I don't take it with me all the time
 
Power went down, the girl in our local Chinese takeaway couldn't add up what we owed
I added it up for her and then she said "but how do I know that's right? Really??
Then she couldn't work out how much change to give me??
I took my $50 note back, left the food and walked out.
Talk about BS, what's she doing working in a shop when she can't add up.
The girl working there must’ve been a family member. Who would employ someone to work with money when they can even do basic maths? Don’t blame you for walking out. 👍🏻
 
I’m looking forward to Tasmania having digital driver’s licenses. It will be so much more convenient as I often run friends a short distance home & would love to just pick up my phone, keys and go. I know that AI has downsides but there are benefits especially in the medical field.
I just pick up my wallet, keys and go.Why the devil should I have to pick up a mobile phone aswell, not that I have one.

As for, "The digital license isn't just a static image of your physical card; it's a dynamic, real-time reflection of your driving status.'. Like wow and far out, man; that's sooooo coooooooool! Or a crock of s*** by a Public Relations blatherskiter.

Come to think of it, I have never owned a Swiss Army knife.............
 
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Power went down, the girl in our local Chinese takeaway couldn't add up what we owed
I added it up for her and then she said "but how do I know that's right? Really??
Then she couldn't work out how much change to give me??
I took my $50 note back, left the food and walked out.
Talk about BS, what's she doing working in a shop when she can't add up.
they're so intelligent these days with their AI
 
The girl working there must’ve been a family member. Who would employ someone to work with money when they can even do basic maths? Don’t blame you for walking out. 👍🏻
More likely to have be an Australienne; Chinese people tend to value education.
 
I'm so sick of everything digital, what's the use of you still need a physical card for when the internet goes down etc.
Society is getting dumber and dumber as they rely on technology and machines, calculators etc to think for them.
Oh I agree - well I am not getting it - don't own a smart phone and not going to - too many issues around smart phones for us and we don't live our lives on the damn things!
 

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