Digital driving licence survey

How do British motorists feel about government plans to digitise driving licences?

In recent years, we've become accustomed to managing many parts of our daily life on our smartphones, from bank transfers to paying for groceries at the supermarket.

Despite many transactions and documents going digital, the physical 'pink licence' remains a key form of identification and proof of legal driving status in the UK.

However, this could all change very soon. In January 2025, the government announced that a "mobile driver's licence" will be one of the first digital documents in a GOV.UK Wallet which is set to be launched later this year.

As part of a wider initiative to simplify access to government services, drivers will be able to use the digital licence in the same way as the physical document, for example for proving their age in shops or online.

With the summer 2025 launch of a GOV.UK App approaching fast, we quizzed 2,000 adults about their attitudes to these proposed changes.

Our survey revealed surprising insights into millions of Brits' scepticism to sign up for the new scheme right away. This is due to some major concerns about the collection of their personal data and worries about potential hacking and identity theft.

The regional breakdown also shows which UK cities are particularly tech-savvy, and where residents will likely hold off for a while before making the switch to the digital licence.

27 million Brits are worried about "hacking and data breaches"

According to our survey, the top concern about the new digital driving licence is "hacking and data breaches" (40%). When compared to the UK population, this is representative of over 27 million UK residents.

This top reason is followed by worries about "collection, storage and sharing of personal data" (34%) and "fraud and identity theft" (32%).

Just 14% of respondents say they don’t have any concerns at all, which in turn means that most Brits have some worries about the new digital initiative.

The top concerns about the introduction of digital driving licenses are: 

1. Hacking and data breaches – 40%

2. Collection, storage and sharing of personal data – 34%

3. Fraud and identity theft – 32%

4. Technical failures, glitches and outages - 25%

5. Accessibility and exclusion of certain groups without internet and smartphones – 19%

The scepticism is felt across different regions and age groups. Surprisingly younger adults, who are often considered the most 'tech-savvy', are among the most hesitant.

For example, 18–24-year-olds (43%) and 25–34-year-olds (48%) worry the most about the risk of potential hacking (43%), compared to just a third (33%) of 55-64 year olds.

On the other hand, concerns around accessibility and exclusion of those without smartphones or internet is more common among the older generations who grew up without these technologies.

A quarter of 65+ year-olds (25%) say digital driving licences could exclude certain groups of the population, whereas just 14% of 18–24-year-olds feel that way.

Our motoring expert, Jonathan, commented on the study: 

"The new plans for a digital driving licence will make life easier and more convenient for many.

"However, our survey also revealed that many Brits have valid concerns about how their data will be handled and stored within the government wallet app.

"It's also clear that a lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of digital driving licences becoming mandatory, but it's important to point out that this is not the case.

"The government app will be optional, and drivers will be allowed to continue relying on the physical licence if they want to.

"It’s important to stay up to date with the latest announcements, and we encourage all motorists to follow this news closely and consider all the facts before deciding when or whether to sign up for the new service."

Most Brits will hold off on signing up right away

It appears that major concerns about the reliability and safety of the new government app are also making people more cautious about signing up right away.

The research shows that only 15% of respondents are keen to try the app as soon as it's released, whereas a further 15% say they will join within the first few days after the launch.

Crucially, one in five (21%) say they don't have any plans to sign up at all. Meanwhile, a significant portion (25%) are not sure yet when or if they would download the new app in the future.

This means that overall, 26 million UK adults are yet to be convinced that the digital initiative will be a success and will likely require further reassurance by the government that the app will be functional and keep their data safe.

Lack of confidence about managing digital identities online continues to be a problem for many

In the run up to the new government app launch, we were also keen to find out how confidents Brits are in general when it comes to managing their digital identity online, for example via online banking.

The good news is the vast majority (83%) say they are confident in doing this, with two in five claiming they’re "very confident" and don't need any help.

A further third (39%) feel "fairly confident" but do admit they sometimes need help with managing their digital identity online.

However, nearly one in five will likely need support with managing their digital driving licences, as 17% answered they are "not confident" with the process and will need some form of help.

The figure of those that are not confident with managing digital identities on their phone is particularly high among 65+ year-olds (29%) and 55–64-year-olds (18%), prompting questions about whether they will be able to receive the right support to avoid feeling left behind.

Which UK cities are the most tech-savvy?

The regional breakdown shows that Liverpool has the most confident smartphone users, as more than half (53%) answered they are "very confident" about managing digital identities and don't need any help.

Liverpudlians were followed closely by Scottish Glasgow (52%) and Edinburgh (51%).

The most tech-savvy cities are:

1. Liverpool – 53% answered 'very confident and don't need any help' 

2. Glasgow – 52%

3. Southampton/Edinburgh – 51%

4. Leeds – 50% 

5. London – 48%

On the other hand, Manchester residents are the least digitally savvy, with nearly a third (29%) saying they're not confident with setting up and managing a digital identity on a smartphone.

The least tech-savvy cities are:

1. Manchester – 29% answered 'not confident'

2. Newcastle – 26%

3. Norwich – 22%

4. Cardiff – 21% 

5. Bristol/Belfast - 18%

When it comes to signing up to the new digital wallet, attitudes also vary greatly up and down the country.

Sheffield residents are the most critical about the new app, followed by Cardiff and Newcastle residents.

Cities where residents say they won't sign up at all for a new digital ID:

1. Sheffield – 36% say 'I am not planning to sign up at all'

2. Cardiff/Newcastle - 30% 

3. Southampton – 27% 

4. Liverpool – 25% 

5. Norwich – 22%

However, other areas are more optimistic and willing to try the new digital licence as soon as it launches. Bristol residents appear to be the most open minded about the new technology, followed by those in London and Birmingham.

Cities where people are most willing to sign up:

1. Bristol – 22% say 'Immediately, as soon as the application is released'

2. London – 19% 

3. Birmingham – 18% 

4. Belfast/Glasgow - 17% 

5. Manchester/Nottingham - 14%

 

Our research shows that attitudes about the plans for digitising driving licences in the UK are not as straightforward as some may think.

While we have become used to managing many of our work and personal affairs through the convenience of our smartphones, the road to general acceptance of a digital ID may be a long one yet.

There are various reasons why drivers remain sceptical, including data collection and hacking, but only time will tell whether these attitudes will shift as plans come into effect.

 

As technology continues to reshape how we manage our daily lives, the way we drive and finance our vehicles is evolving too. If you're thinking about upgrading your car, why not explore your finance options? Get a quote today - it's quick and easy!

 

Information includes references to: 

GOV.UK - Digital driving licence coming this year

Office for National Statistics - Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2023

 

Methodology: 

Survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted in January 2025