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Californians will soon be able to carry their identification (driver's license and state ID) on their phones through Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.
The announcement was made by the governor Gavin Newsom, who detailed that these new features offer multiple ways to add and submit California driver's licenses and ID cards using iPhone, Apple Watch and Android devices.
These options are part of the California Department of Motor Vehicles' (DMV) broader mobile driver license (mDL) pilot program, which launched last year.
“We are partnering with two iconic California companies, Apple and Google, to offer convenient, private and secure driver’s licenses and ID cards right on people’s phones. This is a big step in our efforts to better serve all Californians, reaching people where they are and with the technology people use every day,” Newsom said.
Californians will be able to use these new options to present their driver’s license or ID card in Google Wallet or Apple Wallet at select merchants and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at airports and in select apps.
To date, more than 500,000 Californians have added a multilingual driver's license to their phone using the California DMV Wallet app. The multilingual license pilot program is limited to 1.5 million participants.
“We continue to expand the availability and acceptance of digital licenses and ID cards while ensuring the highest level of privacy and security,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon.
Offering a California ID in an Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, or mDL in the California DMV Wallet app, does not replace the requirement that people carry a physical card. However, it does make it easier for Californians to validate their age and identity at participating merchants and airports.
The DMV said it continues to work with stakeholders to foster broad acceptance of the mDL, including financial institutions, retailers, law enforcement and government agencies, and will host two hackathons in the fall for innovators interested in adding this secure digital identity to their customer experience.
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