Auckland: The New Zealand Government is preparing to introduce a digital driver licence system that would allow motorists to carry their driver licence securely on their mobile phones, eliminating the need to carry a physical licence card at all times. Drivers who prefer a physical card, however, will still have the option to use one.
Although Parliament has already passed legislation changing the legal definition of a driver licence to enable the new system, the digital licence has not yet been introduced. The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has now released a proposal for public consultation outlining how the system is expected to operate.
Under the proposal, drivers will be able to store their digital driver licence in digital wallets such as Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The licence will remain accessible even without an internet connection and will contain all the information currently displayed on a physical licence, along with additional security features.
The digital driver licence is intended to be used not only while driving but also as an accepted form of identification. It could be presented during police licence checks, when purchasing alcohol or other age-restricted products, and for identity verification when accessing government or online services. NZTA also expects the digital licence to gain wider acceptance among government agencies, private businesses and internationally, with Australia likely to be among the first countries to recognise it.
To obtain a digital licence, drivers will need to scan their existing physical driver licence and complete a facial verification process. Once their identity has been confirmed against NZTA’s driver licence register, a secure digital credential will be issued and stored in the user’s mobile wallet.
During roadside checks, drivers will simply display their digital licence on their phone. They will not be required to hand over their device to police. Licence validity will be verified using a QR code or contactless technology. Screenshots, photographs or saved copies of the digital licence will not be accepted as valid.
According to NZTA, the system will use advanced security measures including PIN protection, Face ID, fingerprint authentication and encryption to safeguard users’ personal information. It will also feature selective sharing, allowing users to display only the information required for a specific purpose. For example, proof of age can be provided without revealing a person’s full date of birth.
NZTA said it is conducting comprehensive privacy and security assessments before the system is launched and is working closely with the Privacy Commissioner throughout the process.
The proposal also includes plans to digitise Warrant of Fitness (WoF) and Vehicle Registration (Rego) documents. If implemented, motorists may no longer need to display WoF or registration stickers on their windscreens, as enforcement agencies would be able to verify a vehicle’s legal status directly through its number plate.
As the proposal is currently in the public consultation stage, the digital driver licence system will not be introduced immediately. NZTA says it will review public feedback before finalising the regulations and rolling out the system in stages across New Zealand.
