If you have ever left your licence at home or hate carrying anything other than your phone, then there is some good news for you.
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The Digital Driver Licence (DDL) will rollout in Young and across the state next month.
It's an electronic version of the plastic driver licence, available on a smartphone or other electronic device through the Service NSW app.
Hume Police District Acting Inspector Tracey Gooch explained drivers won't be asked to hand over or give police their device.
"However, if a police officer or other authorised person requesting to see your licence asks or directs you to refresh the licence by swiping down on the screen, you are required to do this," she said.
"If you are asked to tilt the screen to enable scanning, move the screen up or down to allow viewing all areas of the licence, you are required to do this too. You can also be asked to brighten the display if it is too dark to enable your licence to be viewed."
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the DDL will provide "additional levels of security".
"Smartphones have become de facto wallets and we're using cutting edge technology so that drivers can use a digital licence in everyday scenarios," he said.
"The DDL is hosted securely on the new Service NSW app, locks with a PIN and can be accessed offline.
"It will provide additional levels of security and protection against identity fraud, compared to the plastic driver licence."
The DDL can also be used to sign into registered clubs and licensed premises.
It will be used in addition to the plastic driver licence, they won't replace them.
Digital photo cards are also expected to be available in late 2019 for people who don't have a driver licence.
The state-wide rollout commences in August following a successful trial period.
The penalty for driving a motor vehicle without carrying a licence or refusing to produce your licence is $114.
Police reaffirmed that drivers can only use their phone or device to display the DDL after being stopped and requested by a police officer, or other authorised person.
All drivers will need to carry their plastic driver licence across state borders.
According to police a digital driver licence is deemed to have not been displayed if:
- The screen of the mobile phone or other electronic device on which it is displayed is unable to be read due to cracking, dimming, dirt or any other fault, damage or obstruction.
- The holder of the digital driver licence fails to comply with a reasonable request by the person to whom it is to be displayed to facilitate the reading, copying or scanning of the whole or any part of the licence.
- The holder of the digital driver licence refuses to comply with a reasonable direction to refresh the display of the licence.
