Drivers warned about 'digital' licences when driving abroad

Experts have issued a warning to all British drivers about 'digital' driving licences, which may cause issues when you try to drive abroad.

Although digital driving licences aren't legal or used in the UK, they're becoming more common across other parts of the world.

Australia, New Zealand and some US states are among those who have implemented the change as they aim to provide a more modern experience for the drivers in their country.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has said that individuals and businesses may start to find it more difficult for rental companies to verify their UK licence.

They stated: "There is nothing within the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic at Annexes 6 or 7 about the validity of a digital permit, nor is there anything within other pertinent legislation."

"Members may wish to consider adding something to their booking process, stating that a digital driving licence is not accepted in the UK and therefore a physical licence will need to be presented and/or an International Driving Permit."

In Queensland, Australia, digital driving licences have been accepted and commonly used since 2020, whilst New Zealand recently launched an app that allows users to pay for road user charges like vehicle registration.

Although British drivers will need to bring extra documentation with them to certain countries, the DVLA is beginning the process of digitising the industry with new online features introduced last year.

British drivers can now see their licence information, vehicle details, MOT status, penalty points and more in one centralised place. They can also use the website to update their contact details.

Julie Lennard, chief executive of the DVLA, spearheaded this innovative change, and said that more features would be added in due course.