Key Points
- Victoria will trial digital driver's licences in Ballarat for six months from July.
- Digital licences will be rolled out statewide in 2024.
- Drivers will still have the option to use their physical licence.
Victorians will be able to drive with a digital licence as part of a regional trial before a statewide rollout of the technology.
All drivers will be able to carry a digital version of their licence on their smartphone by 2024, the Victorian government has confirmed.
A six-month trial of the technology will begin in Ballarat for full licence holders in July before it is rolled out across the state.
The digital licence will be available through the app and will reflect in real-time whether it has been revoked or suspended.
It can still be used as proof of identity as police, businesses and other authorities will be able to verify its authenticity through a timed QR code.
Users will have the opportunity to only show certain personal information for privacy reasons.
Government Services Minister Danny Pearson said if someone entering a licence venue didn't want to share their address with a bouncer then they'd be able to simply show evidence they were over 18.
He said police would also be able to access a person's driving history if they were pulled over.
"We want to give consumers the choice to be able to decide how they control their data, how they use the data and what they're prepared to show or not show," Mr Pearson told reporters.
Drivers will still have the option to use their physical licence.
South Australia launched digital driver's licences in late 2017, with .
Queensland began rolling out digital licences in a staggered approach last month, beginning with Townsville residents.
