California residents will soon be able to keep their driver’s licenses and state ID cards in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the new capabilities will be available in “the coming weeks.” These new options for storing driver’s licenses and ID cards are part of the Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) broader mobile Driver’s License (mDL) pilot, which launched last year.
“We’re partnering with two iconic California companies – Apple and Google – to provide convenient, private, and secure driver’s licenses and ID cards directly on people’s phones. This is a big step in our efforts to better serve all Californians, meeting people where they’re at and with technology people use every day,” said Gov. Newsom.
Once the capability is rolled out, Californians will be able to use their Apple and Google Wallets to present their driver’s license or ID card at select businesses and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport security checkpoints and in select apps.
To date, more than 500,000 Californians have added an mDL to their phone using the California DMV Wallet app. The mDL pilot program is limited to 1.5 million participants.
“We continue to expand the availability and acceptance of digital licenses and identification cards, while ensuring the highest level of privacy and security,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon.
The state did note that having a driver’s license or ID stored on a mobile device does not replace the requirement for individuals to carry a physical card. However, the state said it does make it easier for Californians to validate their age and identity at participating businesses and airports.
The DMV said it continues to work with interested groups to encourage broad acceptance of the mDL, including financial institutions, retail establishments, law enforcement, and government agencies. The DMV will be hosting two “hackathons” in the fall for innovators interested in adding this secure digital identity into their customer experience.
