The place to go for government services

Service Victoria

Back to Digital Driver Licences FAQ

How do digital licences work?

A digital driver licence displays your official licence records on your mobile.

Digital licences protect your privacy. You have control over the level of personal information you share, based on whether police or businesses ask to:

  • check your full driver licence
  • confirm your address, or
  • check you’re over 18

As we cannot wholly trust what is displayed on the holders' digital driver licence screen, the most secure way to verify someone's digital driver licence is their QR code.

It is the only way to securely verify the driver licence information is valid and current.

The QR code is securely encrypted and is highly fraud resistant. The QR code verification happens on the verifiers device and does not re-direct to a website.

The verifier scans the holder's QR code and if the information is valid and current, the verifier will receive a 'green tick' and a 'Licence verified' message'. The same applies for the QR codes relating to 'Identity' and 'Age'.

The QR code securely stores the customer data for these three groupings of customer information.

The digital licence shows you when the app last pulled info from the Victorian Licensing Registry. If the info isn’t current, you can ask the customer to pull down, or tap, to refresh. This way you know it’s current, and legit.

The digital licence shows when the app last pulled your record, so you know that your information is current, and legitimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

To get a digital driver licence through Service Victoria, you’ll need to download the app through the Apple App tore< or Google Play. In the app, go to the wallet and tap on the driver licence to get started. You can find more info here.

The QR code on your licence is there for when businesses ask to check your ID. You can choose the level of info you want them to see. Then show them the code and they can scan it with the Service Victoria app or other approved ID scanners.

The barcode at the bottom of your licence lets police use your licence number to pull up your records.

The QR code connects to your records every time the code gets refreshed. Each code is unique and lasts 2 minutes. After that, you need to refresh again to update your information. This helps protect against fraud.

The hologram on a digital licence is similar to the one on a plastic card. If you tilt your phone back and forth or side to side, you’ll see the image move and shimmer.

For now, digital licences need internet access for QR code scanning to work. You’ll get an error if you or the person checking your licence can’t connect. If you check the connection and try to scan again it should work. If it doesn’t, you should show your physical licence or use another form of ID.

Other errors will tell you if your licence isn’t valid. You’ll get this kind of error for an expired, void, or suspended licence. In that case, you’ll need to check the status of your licence with VicRoads.

Yes, VicRoads will still send a plastic card to all drivers in Victoria. This includes when you renew your licence or get one for the first time.

Yes, your existing plastic card is still government ID and you need to keep it safe.

You no longer need to carry it while driving, but we recommend you do. Your phone might run out of power or have a technical error.

You need to always have a valid licence on you if you have conditions on your licence that require you to carry it.

You can always contact us if you still need help, or our virtual assistant Vicky is available 24/7.

Get your digital driver licence now