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Have you ever wished you had your driver’s license on your phone? If you live in California, you can do this now.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Have you ever wished you had your driver’s license on your phone? If you live in California, you can do this now.
The California DMV announced that it has expanded its pilot program that allows drivers to obtain a digital driver’s license or ID card – also known as an “mDL,” which stands for mobile driver’s license.
According to the DMV website, the free pilot program is now open to 1.5 million participants.
All you need to do is download the CA DMV Wallet app on iOS and Android.
Then take a photo of the front and back of your Real ID and upload it to the app.
The DMV said this is not intended to replace your Real ID.
However, you can use the digital version at three California airports – SFO, San Jose and LAX – to pass a TSA check.
Las Vegas and Phoenix airports will also accept it.
And you can use it as proof of age in stores and restaurants when purchasing alcohol.
You can’t use it as evidence to the police if you get pulled over.
California drivers have mixed feelings about its use.
Martinez’s Jordan Sanelli said, “As long as it’s encrypted, I think it would make a lot of sense to people.”
Sue Brouwer of Concord said she’s not really a fan, but she knows “that’s where we’re going with the technology.”
And Leyra Gonzalez of Pacheco said she feared her data would be hacked.
“I feel like it would be a lot easier for someone to steal that,” she said.
Anita Gore, deputy communications director for the California DMV, emphasized that “privacy is the DMV’s biggest concern across the board, and that certainly includes the mobile driver’s license.”
She added that the app requires encryption and biometrics.
The DMV also said it “does not permanently store your personal information,” but does store your phone number and an “encrypted photo of your DL/ID card.”
Additionally, the mDL is only available within the app – you can’t add it to your Apple or Google digital wallet yet.
However, the DMV said it hopes to bring the mDL to additional platforms in the future.
To find out more, click here.