Mobile Driving Licence

A secure digital driving licence that will be accepted by car rental agents and police officers everywhere in Europe

The context

With an estimated 50 million police checks conducted on European roads annually (according to Amazon Titan), the necessity for a streamlined and efficient mean of identity verification during these checks has never been more crucial. The Mobile Driving License (mDL) emerges as a pivotal solution to address this significant demand. Moreover, given the extensive reliance of the car rental industry on robust identity verification processes, the mDL initiative seeks to digitally transform the traditional driving license into a secure, universally accepted digital format within Europe.

Our ambitions

As we envisage the future of driving in Europe, it aspires to revolutionize the way citizens interact with their driving credentials. Our ambition is to seamlessly integrate the driving license into citizens’ personal devices. This digital transformation aims to enhance accessibility and instill confidence in identity verification processes during police checks and car rentals. Our goal extends beyond individual convenience, to establish a standardized and secure digital identification system, paving the way for a future where the mDL becomes an integral part of European citizens’ digital lives.

The benefits

Implementing the Mobile Driving License promises time savings during controls and renting, helps in fighting against illegal driving, and provides a secure means of identifying the driver. The mDL simplifies identity verification for law enforcement and streamlines the car rental process. Motorists can avoid fines by using the EUDI Wallet, by eliminating the need for carrying a physical copy of the license.

Work in progress

The UC4 team has reached a significant milestone as the first version of the specifications document has been handed over to the European commission, incorporating valuable contributions from all participants. Four different scenarios have been identified: when a user applies for an EUDIW from the registration authority through the mDL issuing process, when renting/getting a (shared) car online, when a car rental shop assistant verifies the mDL data before finalizing the rental process, and when the validity of a driver’s mDL is verified by the police during a roadside check. However, the varying statuses of mDL development within partner countries may pose challenges during the piloting phase. Addressing these differences and ensuring a harmonized approach will be crucial for the seamless implementation of the mDL initiative. Looking ahead, the team is preparing for discussions and revisions of the specifications document based on the release of the V1.4 Architecture and Reference Framework.