Electronic Driving Licence Launched
The Transport Department launched electronic driving licences (eDL) today, making it easier for about 2.5 million drivers to show their licence on their smartphones.
Drivers can download the free “Electronic Driving Licence” app, log in using “iAM Smart” or the department’s e-Licensing Portal, and access their eDL. This includes full, learner’s, probationary, temporary, and driving instructor licences.
The eDL can be used instead of a physical licence to meet legal requirements for carrying or showing a driving licence to police.
The electronic driving licence (eDL) shows the same details as the physical licence, like the driver’s name, licence number, types of vehicles they can drive, and expiry dates.
The eDL’s status is shown in colors: blue for a valid licence, yellow for a partially valid licence, and red for an expired licence.
The eDL can only be viewed through the Transport Department’s eDL app, which has security features to prevent fakes, such as identity checks, a moving department logo, a block on screen captures, and a time-limited encrypted QR code.
Each driver can only have one eDL account, and each phone can only be linked to one account at a time.
The Transport Department said that physical driving licences will still be issued as usual, and drivers can choose to use either the physical or electronic version.
If you apply for a licence online, you can instantly use your electronic driving licence (eDL) through the eDL app once approved, without waiting for the physical licence to arrive by mail.
Since August, the department has been explaining the eDL to transport industry groups, including those for goods vehicles, taxis, public light buses, non-franchised buses, cross-boundary coaches, and driving schools. They’ve also been working closely with police and other relevant departments.
The Transport Department will inform Mainland China and international authorities or consulates in Hong Kong about the launch of the electronic driving licence (eDL).
The eDL app works on iOS and Android phones and can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store, Google Play, or Huawei AppGallery.
