California residents will soon be able to store their driver’s licenses and state IDs in their Apple Wallet and Google Wallet apps, as announced by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office.
This new feature, which is set to launch in the coming weeks, is part of a broader initiative to make identification more accessible through digital platforms. While the mobile option will simplify age verification during air travel and at participating businesses, residents are still required to carry a physical copy of their identification.
Governor Newsom emphasized the collaboration with Apple and Google, noting that this step aligns with California’s efforts to provide more convenient, private, and secure services to its residents through everyday technology. This addition to the wallet apps builds on California’s Department of Motor Vehicles’ existing mobile Drivers License (mDL) pilot program, which has already seen over 500,000 participants use the DMV’s proprietary wallet app to upload their IDs to their smartphones.
Other States Leading the Way in Digital IDs
This move follows the example set by other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio, which have already adopted support for digital identification. Arizona was the first to integrate driver’s licenses into Apple Wallet in 2022, and the technology is being explored by more than 20 other states, according to the Secure Technology Alliance.
The upcoming integration in California will allow users to easily upload their IDs to the wallet apps by following specific in-app instructions:
- in the Apple Wallet app, click the “+” button at the top of the screen, then choose “Driver’s License or State ID.” Follow the on-screen instructions, which include taking a selfie and scanning the front and back of your ID.
- In the Google Wallet app, tap the “Add to Wallet” option, then select “ID card.” Choose your state and complete the verification steps, which also involve scanning your physical ID.
This initiative comes ahead of the Real ID laws, which will require additional documentation for air travel and access to certain government facilities starting in 2025.
