Cabinet ministers have announced that digital driving licences will be introduced in the UK.
As part of post-Brexit measures, the new licences are intended to make transport "fairer, greener, and more efficient."
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wrote on Twitter that online versions of provisional licences will be made available.
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The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has committed to developing an app featuring the licences by 2024.
Provisional licences are required by people learning to drive.
Traditional physical plastic cards would continue to be available.
Mr Shapps said his department is also “bringing MOTs into the modern age”, which will involve introducing digital versions of booking systems and certificates.
He added: “This is a golden chance to shake off the bureaucracy, invest in our future, and realise our potential with world-leading transport that benefits all of Britain.”
Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: “These days the one thing drivers are most likely to have with them is their phone, so using it to carry their driver’s licence could be quite handy.
“The risk is that the more personal data we store on our phones the more tempting a target they become for thieves and hackers.”
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.”
