THE move to digital driving licences has taken a step closer with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) expected to roll them out in the next few years.

There has been much speculation that driving licences could be the next to get a technological overhaul, but the move to scrap the plastic card version has never took place.

The DVLA is understood to now be preparing to launch new digital licences, making the plastic card a thing of the past for many.

The new technology will initially be made available for mobile provisional licences for learner drivers, accessed on an app, before being made available to everyone later on.

The Mirror has reported that under the changes at first physical plastic cards would continue to be issued alongside the app, but sources say the traditional physical card would then be axed over time.

The government has said it was previously prevented from making the move to digital because of European Union law, but following Brexit it can now make the change.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has said that the UK's transport system would move the system "into the modern age" and tweeted that the DVLA has committed to developing an app featuring the licences by 2024.

In its strategic plan for 2021-2024, the DVLA said: “We will introduce a digital driving licence for provisional drivers and also start to build a customer account facility.

“This will ultimately give our customers personalised, easy and secure access to a range of services and allow them more choice in how they transact with us.

“Our services will be secure, scalable and resilient and we will continue to explore and expand the use of emerging technologies.”