Digital German driving licence to launch on smartphones in November

From late November 2026, Germany plans to offer driving licences on smartphones through the federal i-Kfz app.

Drivers will be able to show the digital licence during police checks in Germany, and using it will be voluntary.

The digital licence will not replace the physical card, which will remain valid.

The app already lets users store a digital vehicle registration document, and the driving licence is the next document planned.

For trips abroad, drivers should still carry the physical licence, because other countries will not initially recognise the digital version.

An EU-wide digital licence is planned, but a Europe-wide system may take years to arrive.

The digital option could also make it easier to use car-sharing and rental services.