What to expect from the UK’s 2026 mobile driving licence rollout

The UK’s mobile driving licence (mDL) rollout is happening later in 2026. Everyone with a full or provisional driving licence will be able to digitise it using the GOV.UK One Login app, making it safer and easier to buy age-restricted products and prove identity online.

Here’s how and when the rollout will work:

What can I use a mobile driving licence for?

Mobile driving licences will be useful for anything you would use your traditional plastic licence for, including proving your age in pubs and clubs, and when proving your identity online or in person to a business.

Why would I bother to digitise my driving licence?

A mobile driving licence makes it both easier and safer to prove your age or identity.

Online, you can scan a QR code and approve a permission prompt instead of taking an awkward photo of a physical card.

It also gives you more control over what you share. In many situations, you can prove a single fact, like being over 18, without handing over your full set of personal details.

How do I get a mobile driving licence?

First, you will need to prove your identity using GOV.UK One Login. You may have already done this to access one of a growing number of government services.

You will also need an iOS or Android device with the GOV.UK One Login app installed.

And of course, you will need to have an existing full or provisional driving licence to digitise.

It’s not yet clear how the digitisation process will work. It might be completely automatic, or involve generating a DVLA share code.

Can I use my mobile driving licence online?

As more people choose to digitise their driving licences, more apps and websites will accept it as a way of verifying your identity or age.

The government works with a selection of certified digital verification services like Yoti and Vouchsafe, who pass a strict audit to be allowed to verify documents from the GOV.UK One Login app.

Banks, retailers and other businesses will need to use one of these services in order to read information from your licence. This makes sure that the information you choose to share from your mDL stays safe and is shared responsibly.

When will I be able to digitise my driving licence?

Since December 2025, the DVLA has been running a closed pilot with a small number of licence holders to make sure the technology works reliably.

A full public roll-out is expected later in 2026.

Do I need to install an app?

Yes, you will need to use the GOV.UK One Login app to create and access your mobile driving licence.

If you already use the standard GOV.UK app, you will still need to download the separate One Login app.

Some government material also refers to it as the “GOV.UK Wallet” app.

Are mobile driving licences safe?

Mobile driving licences offer several important safety and privacy advantages.

With an mDL, you can prove your age for alcohol, tobacco and other age-restricted products while the physical card stays safe at home.

If your phone is ever lost or stolen, the licence can be regenerated using your One Login account for free, rather than having to re-apply for and pay £20 for a replacement.

When used to prove your age or identity online, using an mDL means there’s no need to take an awkward photograph of your real ID, and no risk of that photo being stored by the business and breached at a later date.

Whether used in-person or online, only the information the business needs is shared. For example, if you’re proving you’re over 18, there’s no need to also share your address or exact date of birth.

Will I still need to carry my plastic driving licence?

The government is changing the law to allow retailers to accept digital IDs for age-restricted purchases, including pubs and off-licences. When the law takes effect later this year, it will no longer be necessary to carry your plastic licence for that.

If you are stopped by the police when driving, you can be required to either present your plastic licence there and then, or at a police station within seven days. This is unlikely to change any time soon.

It will take a long time for everyone to change their policies to reflect the new rules, so when in doubt, it’s a good idea to keep carrying your plastic licence, especially if you’re planning on driving.

What other documents can I digitise?

Since the retirement of Biometric Residence Permits in early 2025, eVisas are now entirely digital. It’s also possible to create digital Veteran Cards.

The government plans to digitise many more identity documents in the next few years, including passports.

Are you a business looking to safely accept mobile driving licences to verify identity, age or address? Get a 14 day free trial of Vouchsafe, or book a 30m conversation to discuss your needs.