CA DMV Expands Availability Of Mobile Driver's Licenses. Here's How To Get Yours

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Department of Motor Vehicles is shifting further into the digital age after expanding the availability of mobile driver's licenses under a pilot program.

The expansion comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 169, which increases the threshold for enrollment into the state's Mobile Driver License Pilot Program. The program was capped at 15 percent for all of California's licensed drivers over the age of 18, but is now available to 60 percent of all drivers.

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"California's DMV has put in the hard work to make operations more efficient and modernize how people get things done," Newsom said in a written statement. "Now we're going further by cutting the red tape that slows government down and giving more Californians the option to carry their ID right on their phone."

The program, which is free to apply for, still comes with limitations and may not be acceptable identification for every purpose.

According to the DMV, driver's will still need their physical card when they're operating a vehicle. The TSA also advises travelers using a mobile license to bring their physical card as well. The digital license is accepted at about 250 TSA checkpoints across the country.

In addition, the California Highway Patrol and police agencies currently do not accept the mobile driver's license in lieu of a physical license.

The mobile license can be added to Apple Wallet, Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet. Alternatively, it can be accessed by downloading the CA DMV Wallet app.

Newsom demonstrated how to add and use the app on a smartphone in a video announcing the pilot program; the process, which includes taking a photo of a physical driver's license, takes about two minutes to complete.

Currently, the cards may not be accepted by businesses and agencies that do not have the technology to verify the digital license, which can be done by scanning a QR code or tapping the phone against a compatible reader.

California bars and stores that participate in the TruAge program have the technology to verify digital licenses as well, according to the DMV.