Mobility: driver's license should come on the smartphone

In the future, at traffic controls in Germany, it should be enough to show the smartphone on which a digital driver's license is to be saved. Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) told the German Press Agency that the EU Commission made a clear commitment to the digital driving license at the informal meeting of European transport ministers on Thursday. The results of the video conference were recorded in a Passau declaration .

"Norway already has it. Germany will also take part," said the CSU politician. If you don't have your driver's license with you, you can show your smartphone. "I'm very happy about this practical progress, because it clearly shows people the advantages of digitization."

At the video conference on Thursday, the EU Commission "clearly committed itself to the digital driving license," said Scheuer. The EU Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean said: "We have discussed the issue. The future should be paperless." The Brussels authority is currently evaluating the relevant EU driving license directive. In the end, she could suggest changes if necessary – including a digital driver's license.

ADAC advocates digital driving license

In Norway, it has long been possible to show your driver's license by smartphone using an app called Førerkort – that is the Norwegian word for driver's license. After you have entered your personal code, the website of the state traffic authority opens, where the details of the driver's license are recorded. There is also a QR code that the police can scan.

The ADAC welcomed the possibility of an additional digital driver's license. "In the course of digitization, the availability of a digital driver's license is a question of convenience and comfort," said a spokeswoman for the traffic club. However, compliance with high data protection standards is important. "In addition, in the interests of traffic safety, it must be ensured that a temporary driving license withdrawal or a driving ban are also shown here and at the same time."

An electronic version of the ID card is also planned. A corresponding app is currently under development and should be available in June 2021 . In future, it will also be possible to store the electronic driver's license or health insurance cards in this. Initially, however, it should only work on certain Samsung smartphones. Meanwhile, the classic ID card is to be supplemented by mandatory fingerprints that are to be stored on an RFID chip.