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Californians will soon be able to carry their ID cards (driver’s license and national identity card) on their mobile phones via Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.

The announcement was made by Governor Gavin Newsom, who explained that these new features provide multiple ways to add and submit California driver’s licenses and identification cards via iPhone, Apple Watch and Android devices.

These options are part of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)’s broader Mobile Driver License (mDL) pilot program, which launched last year.

“We are partnering with two iconic California companies, Apple and Google, to offer convenient, private and secure driver’s licenses and identification cards right on people’s phones. This is a big step in our efforts to better serve all Californians by reaching people where they are and with the technology people use every day,” Newsom said.

Californians can use these new options to show their driver’s license or ID in Google Wallet or Apple Wallet at select retailers and at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at airports, as well as in select apps.

To date, over 500,000 Californians have loaded a multilingual driver’s license onto their phone using the California DMV Wallet app. The multilingual driver’s license pilot program is capped at 1.5 million participants.

“We are continuing to expand the availability and acceptance of digital driver’s licenses and ID cards while ensuring the highest levels of data protection and security,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon.

Offering a California ID in an Apple Wallet or Google Wallet or an mDL in the California DMV Wallet app does not replace the requirement to carry a physical card, but it does make it easier for Californians to confirm their age and identity at participating merchants and airports.

The DMV said it continues to work with stakeholders to encourage broad adoption of the mDL, including financial institutions, retailers, law enforcement and government agencies, and will host two hackathons in the fall for innovators interested in extending the customer experience with this secure digital identity.

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