How to Get Your Digital Driver’s Licence on Your Phone in Australia

Your plastic driver licence still works fine, but in four Australian states you can now carry it on your phone instead. A digital driver's licence lives inside your state government's official app, and it is accepted as proof of identity and proof that you are licensed to drive. It is free and quick to set up. Here is how it works, state by state, and what to watch out for before you rely on it.

Which states offer a digital licence

Digital driver's licences are a state-by-state rollout, so the first question is whether your state offers one. New South Wales offers it in the Service NSW app. Victoria offers it statewide in the Service Victoria app. Queensland offers it statewide in the Queensland Digital Licence app. South Australia offers it in the mySA GOV app.

The Northern Territory has a digital licence planned, and Western Australia expects to go live in 2027. Tasmania and the ACT have no launch date yet. If you live in one of those places, you will need to keep using your plastic card for now, and it is worth checking your state transport website from time to time for a launch date.

What you need before you start

You need three things: a compatible smartphone, the official app for your state, and a verified identity with that state government. The apps run on recent iPhones and Android phones with a current operating system.

Identity checks are the part that takes the most time. In most states you will need a state government account, such as a Service NSW account, and a way to prove who you are. That can include your licence number, your Medicare details, or a myID account, depending on the state. Some people finish the whole process in the app, while others are asked to verify in person at a service centre.

Only download the official app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Search for the exact name, Service NSW, Service Victoria, Queensland Digital Licence or mySA GOV, and check that the developer is the state government. Fake apps that promise a licence are a known scam, and a real digital licence never comes from a third-party app or a link in a text message.

How to set it up in your state

The steps are similar in every state, with small differences in names and menus. Start by downloading your state's app and signing in, or creating an account if you do not have one. Then look for the licences or wallet section of the app, where the wording differs slightly by state.

Next, add your driver licence. The app will ask for your licence number and some personal details, then check them against state records. It may ask you to take a photo of yourself or confirm a code sent to your phone. Once the check passes, your licence appears in the app, usually with your photo, your licence number, your address and the classes of vehicle you can drive.

Using your digital licence day to day

Using it is simple. Open the app, open your licence, and show the screen. Many licences show a moving image, a QR code or a barcode that changes, which is how the person checking it knows it is live and real. That is why a screenshot does not count: show the live licence in the app.

Digital licences are now accepted in more places than they used to be. Police in the states that offer them can check them at a traffic stop, and the Passport Office accepts them when you lodge a passport application or pick up a passport. But acceptance is not universal yet.

Some businesses still ask for the plastic card, especially outside the state that issued your licence. Car rental companies are a known weak spot, and some will not accept a digital licence at all. State governments still advise you to carry your physical licence as a backup, especially when you travel interstate or hire a car. The digital version is a convenience, not a replacement, until acceptance catches up.

What if your phone is lost, flat or broken

A licence on a phone is only useful while the phone works. If your battery dies, your screen cracks or your phone is stolen, you have no licence to show. That is another reason to keep the plastic card in your wallet or your car. If your phone is lost or stolen, sign in to your state account from another device and remove the licence, just as you would cancel a lost bank card. Your licence itself is not cancelled, only the copy on that phone.

Privacy and the new QR code trial in NSW

New South Wales is trialling a new way to show your licence that shares less of your personal information. Under the trial, drivers can show a QR code that proves only what is needed, such as that they are over 18, without showing their full name and address. The trial is currently open to residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, with a statewide rollout planned for next year, and more than 19,000 people have already signed up, according to reports.

For now, the ordinary digital licence shows your full details on screen, just like the plastic card, so think about when you show it and to whom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a digital driver's licence free in Australia?

Yes. The digital licence is free in every state that offers it, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. You only need the official state app and a verified identity with that state government. No state charges a fee to add your licence to the app.

Which Australian states offer a digital driver's licence?

New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia offer digital driver's licences through their official apps: Service NSW, Service Victoria, Queensland Digital Licence and mySA GOV. The Northern Territory has one planned and Western Australia expects to launch in 2027. Tasmania and the ACT have no launch date yet.

Can I use my digital licence instead of my plastic card?

In many situations, yes, but not everywhere. Police, the Passport Office and many businesses accept them in the states that offer them. Some car rental companies still ask for the plastic card, so carry it as a backup when travelling interstate.