California’s digital ID is a free mobile driver’s license, called an mDL, that you can add to your smartphone as a digital version of your physical California driver’s license or state ID. The California DMV runs it as a pilot capped at 4.2 million participants.1California DMV. CA DMV Wallet It works at TSA airport checkpoints and a growing list of retailers, but it does not replace the physical card you’re required to carry when you drive.
Who Can Enroll
You need a valid, unexpired California driver’s license or state ID card. Minors aren’t eligible. If your physical card is suspended, revoked, or expired, you can’t enroll, and any existing mDL tied to that card stops working automatically.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A There’s no fee.3Transportation Security Administration. TSA at SAN Accepting California Mobile Drivers Licenses During Identity Verification Process
The pilot originally capped enrollment at 1.5 million people and has since expanded to 4.2 million.1California DMV. CA DMV Wallet If the cap is full when you try, you’ll have to wait for the next expansion or a full public launch.
Which Wallet to Use
There are four options, and they don’t all do the same things.
The CA DMV Wallet is the DMV’s own app, available on iPhone and Android, and it’s the most capable choice. It supports TSA checkpoints, TruAge age verification at retail stores, logging into your MyDMV account, and applying for a disabled person parking placard.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A
Apple Wallet lets you add your California license or ID directly on an iPhone or Apple Watch by tapping the plus sign, selecting “Driver’s License or State ID,” and following the prompts. Use is limited to select TSA checkpoints and businesses with compliant ID readers.4California DMV. mDL in Apple Wallet
Google Wallet works on Android. Open the app, tap “Add to Wallet,” and choose “ID card.” It’s currently limited to participating airports.5California DMV. mDL in Google Wallet
Samsung Wallet was added in April 2026 and is the newest option, limited for now to select TSA checkpoints, with broader use expected over time.6Governor of California. California Expands Mobile Drivers License to Samsung Wallet, Continuing DMVs Digital Transformation
The CA DMV Wallet is the only one that currently supports retail age verification through TruAge. If buying age-restricted items in stores matters to you, use that app.7California DMV. California mDL
What Your Phone Needs
Requirements have tightened since the pilot began, and older phones that once qualified may not now.
- CA DMV Wallet on iPhone: iPhone XS or later running iOS 17.5 or above, or Apple Watch Series 4 or later with watchOS 10 or above.
- CA DMV Wallet on Android: Android 9 or above with NFC hardware.
These are the DMV’s stated requirements.1California DMV. CA DMV Wallet The iPhone XS / iOS 17.5 minimum also applies to Apple Wallet.4California DMV. mDL in Apple Wallet You’ll also need a working camera for enrollment and biometric security (Face ID, fingerprint, or the equivalent) turned on.
How to Sign Up
Download the CA DMV Wallet from the App Store or Google Play. Log in with your MyDMV credentials. Don’t have a MyDMV account? Create one first — have your Social Security number, name, address, and date of birth ready.8Department of Motor Vehicles. California DMV – Adding License Endorsement
The app will ask you to scan the front and back of your physical card with your phone’s camera. Good lighting helps; the DMV notes it can take a few tries before the app accepts the photo. Next comes a selfie. Then a liveness scan, where a sequence of lights is projected onto your face from the phone screen to confirm you’re a real person. Hold the phone steady at eye level, use a plain background, remove sunglasses, and stay well-lit indoors.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A
After you submit, the DMV verifies your information against its records. This can take up to three business days.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A If a request is rejected, you can try again. Common issues are expired cards, blurry scans, and data mismatches, so make sure you’re using the most recent card the DMV issued you.
Where You Can Actually Use It
Acceptance is expanding but still limited. The most reliable use is TSA airport security. The mDL works at participating checkpoints at airports including LAX, SFO, and SAN, along with others around the country.7California DMV. California mDL You hold your phone over the reader with Bluetooth on, the system authenticates you, and you confirm on your screen. You never hand your phone over.5California DMV. mDL in Google Wallet
For age-restricted purchases like alcohol and tobacco, the CA DMV Wallet supports TruAge verification at participating retail and convenience stores. Apple Wallet also works at businesses with compliant ID readers and in select apps that require identity or age verification.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A
Inside the CA DMV Wallet, you can also log into your MyDMV account and apply for a disabled person parking placard using your mDL.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A
You Still Have to Carry Your Physical License
This is where people get tripped up. The mDL does not replace your physical card for driving. California Vehicle Code Section 12951 requires every driver to have a valid physical license in their immediate possession while operating a motor vehicle on a highway.9California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 12951 – Signature and Display of Licenses Law enforcement doesn’t currently accept the mDL, and the DMV explicitly tells users to keep carrying the hard copy.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A
What the Verifier Actually Sees
The mDL is built to share less information than a physical card does. When you present it, the verifier receives only the data relevant to that transaction. A store checking your age doesn’t need your home address and won’t get it. The DMV states that usage isn’t tracked and no data leaves your device without your consent.1California DMV. CA DMV Wallet
Verification happens through QR codes or NFC tap-to-verify, depending on the wallet and the situation. The process is contactless, so your phone stays in your hand.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A
If Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen
Biometric security on the device blocks anyone else from using your mDL, but you should still deactivate it remotely as soon as possible.
- Apple Wallet: use Find My from another Apple device or iCloud.com to lock or erase your device.
- Google Wallet: go to myaccount.google.com to delete your mDL remotely.
- Samsung Wallet: log into SmartThings Find, select your device, and erase or lock it.
These steps come from the DMV’s FAQ and apply to the wallet holding your mDL.2California Department of Motor Vehicles. mDL Q&A Your physical card stays valid the whole time, which is one more reason not to treat the digital version as your only ID.