Governor Newsom has now opened the state’s digital DMV option to roughly 17 million Californians with either a license or a state ID card.
SAN DIEGO — Millions more Californians can now add a digital version of their driver’s license or state identification card to their smartphones after Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation expanding the state’s mobile driver’s license program.
The new law, Senate Bill 169, significantly broadens access to California’s mobile driver’s license (mDL) program, increasing eligibility from an initial pilot limited to about 15% of Californians to roughly 60% of licensed drivers and state ID holders — approximately 17 million residents.
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The digital IDs are available through the California DMV Wallet app and are designed to make it easier for residents to verify their identity without carrying a physical wallet.
Governor Gavin Newsom demonstrated the enrollment process after signing the legislation.
“Processing request… this is legitimately easy,” Newsom said while setting up his digital license.
The process requires users to scan the front and back of their physical driver’s license or ID card and verify their identity with a photo before the digital credential is added to the app.
For 18-year-old Dylan Williams, who had just received his driver’s license at the Clairemont DMV, the option to carry a digital version was appealing.
“I am official to drive now… but if I lose this, I’m screwed!” Williams said while holding his temporary paper license.
Williams said having a digital license on his phone could help if he forgets his wallet.
“If I forget my wallet, I’m kind of screwed there, but having it on my phone would be a lot easier,” he said.
His mother, Michelle Williams, said she was initially hesitant about the technology but is willing to give it a chance.
“I’m a little resistant, but I have to go with the flow, and if it works and is convenient, I’d try it,” she said.
San Diego resident Bayla Sanchez also welcomed the idea.
“I’m really bad at keeping track of where my purse is at, and I always do have my phone on me… so I feel like it’d be really useful to have it on your phone,” Sanchez said.
Her mother, May Sanchez, agreed but noted the technology still has limitations.
“It would be handy if they would accept it, but they don’t accept it quite yet,” she said.
Currently, California’s mobile driver’s license can be used at most Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, including San Diego International Airport, and at a growing number of businesses that accept digital identification. It can also be used for certain state services, including enrollment at California community colleges.
However, the digital credential is not yet universally accepted. Drivers are still required to carry their physical driver’s license in situations such as traffic stops, where law enforcement agencies will not accept the mobile version as a replacement.
May Sanchez hopes broader acceptance will come with time.
“Eventually, hopefully, we all get on the same page, right?” she said.
“A few years ago we didn’t use our phones to pay with a credit card and now we ‘tap’ everywhere, so I expect things to go similarly with this,” said Ed Swenson, Chief Deputy Director of California’s DMV.
In addition to serving as a digital form of identification, the DMV Wallet app can also be used to securely access DMV online services, helping some customers complete transactions without visiting a DMV office in person.
For more information on California’s Mobile Driver’s License Program, click here.