California residents have something new to celebrate: the ability to store their driver’s license or state ID in their Apple Wallet app. This initiative, announced recently by the California government, follows the state’s rollout of digital IDs through Google Wallet just last month.
For Californians with IDs stored in either the Apple or Google Wallet apps, verification becomes a lot easier. Mobile devices can now be used to present identification at select TSA security checkpoints and businesses, as well as for age or identity confirmation in supported apps.
California joins a growing list of states that support digital driver’s licenses and state IDs, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio.
Adding your ID to Apple and Google Wallets is straightforward. For the Apple Wallet, tap the “+” button, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” and follow the prompts to complete the setup and verification, including taking a selfie and scanning the front and back of your physical ID. In Google Wallet, you need to tap “Add to Wallet,” select the “ID card” option, choose your state, and follow the verification steps using your actual ID.
California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with Apple and Google, highlighting the effort to make driver’s licenses and ID cards more convenient, private, and secure directly on people’s phones. He emphasized that this move is part of a broader initiative to improve services for Californians by leveraging everyday technology.
To date, more than 500,000 Californians have already embraced the mobile driver’s license (mDL) through the California DMV Wallet app, though the ongoing mDL pilot program is currently capped at 1.5 million participants.
The concept of mobile digital licenses is catching on, with over 20 states actively exploring this idea. States such as Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming are among those considering the adoption of digital IDs.
The rollout in California marks an important milestone, making it easier for residents to integrate their state IDs with the technology they use daily, paving the way for a more connected and convenient future.
