Licence holders and the NSW Digital Driver Licence

The benefits, how to get a digital licence, who accepts it, how to present it, and what you need to know to use and protect your digital licence.

NSW Digital Driver Licence

The NSW Digital Driver Licence is the digital version of the NSW Driver Licence available on your smartphone through the Service NSW app. It can be accepted wherever a plastic driver licence can be used in NSW and is broadly accepted interstate. 

Benefits

  • It’s optional and available at no additional cost. 
  • Updates are in real time, so you no longer have to wait for a new plastic card to be posted when your licence is renewed or if you change your details.
  • It works offline and can be viewed when you have no data coverage, as long as you stay logged in to the Service NSW app.
  • Your licence information is protected by the security on your phone (PIN, fingerprint, facial recognition) as well as the security of the Service NSW app.

Conditions

The NSW Digital Driver Licence is legal for use across NSW and is accepted by most pubs and clubs, and NSW Police. It doesn't replace your plastic card, so we recommend you still carry your card as a backup while venues get used to seeing and accepting the digital driver licence as identification.  

It’s illegal to access your digital driver licence when driving, including when stationary, unless you’re asked to do so by a police officer. Penalties apply.

Ensure your phone screen isn't cracked and your phone is charged. Carry your plastic card if you plan to travel overseas or interstate and as a backup to your digital driver licence.

See the Terms and Conditions for the NSW Digital Driver Licence. 

Get the NSW Digital Driver Licence

To get your digital driver licence:

  • Download the latest version of the Service NSW app to your smartphone.
  • Log into the app with your MyServiceNSW Account details and follow the prompts.

The Service NSW app will walk you through the process to access your digital driver licence.

If you have any issues getting your digital driver licence, call us on 13 77 88 or visit a Service NSW Centre.

How to present your NSW Digital Driver Licence

Transcript

This video starts with a medium close up shot of a male NSW Police Officer approaching a white car with a woman inside, that is parked next to the footpath. We can see a busy road with trees in the background. We also see a white police car which belongs to the police officer. A soft uplifting music is playing in the background. This music continues to play until the end of the video.

We then see a blue speech bubble pop up alongside the police officer, which reads, “Can I see your Driver Licence”. The woman smiles politely.  

A close up shot of a large red bubble, with a smaller blue bubble, soon fade in with text that reads, “It’s illegal to access your Digital Driver Licence when driving, including when stationary, unless you’re asked to do so by a police officer. Penalties apply” 

We then see a close up of the woman inside the white car reaching for her mobile phone that is sitting next to the passenger seat.  You can see a blue speech bubble pop up next to her that reads, “Sure!” 

We then see a medium shot of the police officer and the women, who is still in the car, holding up her mobile phone, as if about to do something. We also see the police officer holding his own mobile phone.

In a close up shot, we see the woman holding up her phone. The phone screen is facing the police officer and on the phone’s screen, we her Digital Driver Licence. The Digital Driver Licence contains her picture, her name (Nina CITIZEN) and other information relating to her licence. We also see the back of the police officer holding up his mobile phone.  

We then see a medium shot of the same scene, and this time, the woman holds up her phone facing the police officer and we see the police officer holding his mobile, which is facing hers. The police officer is scanning her Digital Driver Licence. Their phones are about a hands length away. 

The next scene shows a close up shot of the back of the police officer facing the woman in her car, and we see he is moving his phone away. We soon see a blue speech bubble which reads, ‘That’s good. Thanks!’.  The woman in the car smiles. She takes her phone away. 

We then see a medium close up of the red and blue NSW Government waratah logo fade in, slowly expanding (animating) over a white background. The music in the background now fades off. We then see in blue text, fade in at the bottom of the NSW Government logo, which reads “service.nsw.gov.au” before the video ends, and fades off. 

Who accepts it

More industries and businesses can now accept the NSW Digital Driver Licence as evidence of permission to drive, proof of age and identity. 

You can present your digital driver licence to NSW police officers and licence checkers just as you would the plastic card. They will visually check the features or scan the QR code to confirm its validity. Examples of industries that will most commonly ask for proof of identity include:

  • licensed venues such as bars, pubs, nightclubs and restaurants
  • hotels
  • supermarkets
  • petrol stations
  • convenience stores
  • tobacco retailers
  • pharmacies
  • pawnbrokers/second-hand dealers. 

Important to know

It may take some time before all organisations will be ready to accept the digital driver licence. In the meantime, we recommend you also carry your plastic card to avoid inconvenience.

You don’t need to hand over your device to the licence checker. If a licence checker is struggling to view your digital driver licence, adjust the tilt of your device or turn up your brightness settings. 

Registered clubs

As a member, guest or visitor you can use the digital driver licence to sign in to selected registered clubs by scanning the venue’s QR code upon entry. 

Need to know

Your security and privacy

To ensure the security and privacy of licence holders, we've built strong partnerships with cyber security and identity theft experts. This has resulted in comprehensive security measures to protect your information and identity at all times, similar to those used for internet banking. For more information, see Privacy and digital licences and credentials. 

Lost your phone

If you lose your smartphone, your digital driver licence is protected by your phone’s PIN, your Service NSW app PIN and, if available, your touch ID.

Report your lost phone immediately to PoliceLink on 131 444 or create a Police report online.

Available offline

The NSW Digital Driver Licence is available offline as long as you are logged into the Service NSW app. You'll be required to use your PIN at all times to access your digital driver licence.

Connecting to the correct licence

For security and privacy reasons, your MyServiceNSW Account is for you only. Your account can only be connected to one licence. 

If you’re seeing someone else’s licence, such as your partner’s, it’s because their information has been added to your account.

Find out how to connect to the correct licence.

Last updated: 3 September 2024