The DVLA will soon collaborate with the Government to introduce motoring documents to the GOV.UK App, as it prepares to roll out digital driving licences for millions of people.
It has been 12 months since the GOV.UK App went live as the Government Digital Service attempts to modernise public services and give Britons better access to their details.
In only a year, 20 per cent of GOV.UK App users are accessing information about council tax, housing support, parking and bin collections easier than ever before.
The Government Digital Service has recently added GOV.UK Chat to the service which uses artificial intelligence to answer any questions that Britons may have.
Thousands of people have already used the service to search for information on topics like tax, benefits, driving and transport.
One of the example questions submitted by users includes: “I had a provisional licence but lost it. How can I renew it?”
The GDS confirmed that it would test the ability for users to view their driver and vehicle information later this month.
This will be in partnership with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and will allow drivers to search for their documents directly within the GOV.UK App.
The new digital driving licence is expected to be rolled out further later this year
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PA/GOV.UKIt added that it would continue developing the Chat service to ensure users can get faster results and better, clearer answers.
Ian Murray, Minister for Data and Digital Government, said: “In its first year, the GOV.UK App has shown how much people value simpler, faster and more joined-up public services.
“With over 600,000 downloads, it’s helping people access support more easily – from applying for a driving licence to accessing childcare support – saving time and making everyday tasks simpler.
“We’re now focused on building on that progress, with more personalised services, stronger connections across Government, and responsible use of AI to get people the information they need quickly and easily.”
The new digital driving licence app will become available this year | DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
In December last year, the GDS started private testing of the digital driving licence alongside the DVLA, beginning with a small group of GDS and DVLA colleagues.
GDS will continue developing the service with the private sector with a view to enabling secure checking services that are compatible with the credentials in the GOV.UK One Login app.
The service confirmed that the digital driving licence “will be rolled out more widely, enabling people to store their driving licence on their phone, making it easier and faster to prove who you are and your driving entitlements”.
Digital driving licences were first confirmed by the Government in January last year, although it claimed that it would launch in 2025, which did not materialise.
The GOV.UK digital driving licence app will also show tax reminders | GOV.UK
The rollout saw the Government state that all services would have to offer a digital alternative alongside paper or card credentials by the end of 2027.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander praised the announcement, saying that Labour was acting on its Plan for Change to make public services better.
She added: “This is a game-changer for the millions of people who use their driving licence as ID.
“The innovation puts power back in the hands of the people, making everyday interactions faster, easier, and more secure.”