Mobile driver’s licenses, or mDLs, are digital forms of identification. Michael McCaskill, director of identity management for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, told The Citizen that his organization has been working on mdL-related projects since 2012. Those efforts contributed to the International Organization for Standardization’s adoption of a standard for mDL specifications in 2021. That standard is now being used by states to implement the digital driver’s licenses.

Maryland’s introduction of Google Wallet mobile IDs last month begs the question of if its southern neighbors will follow suit. Here’s what DC and Virginia’s motor vehicle agencies said.

Georgia’s recent implementation of digital IDs in the form of mobile driver’s licenses for iOS smartphones can make it easier for those with mobility challenges to access their identification.

The state has offered access to digital ID for Apple smartphone users for almost two years. Now, those with Android devices will be able to use their state-issued IDs digitally as well.

While the actual technology has been around for years, it’s only recently that the federal government and states are beginning to take steps to implement these for everyday use. That, along with the fact that major tech companies like Apple and Google (in Beta) are providing the ability to store your ID on your phone, means that the use of digital driver’s licenses is on the rise!

IDEMIA Identity and Security (I&S) North America partnered with the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) to launch the Missouri Mobile ID App. State residents can now securely access their digital credentials from a free app either from the Apple App Store or Google Play. With real-time credential updates, verifiers can access the most up-to-date status of the ID, including if it’s been revoked or canceled.

DMVs have long provided organizations and individuals alike with a key identity verification tool in the form of a physical driver’s license. Today, DMVs are facing pressure on how to modernize the role they play in identity verification to meet the needs of an increasingly digital world while at the same time ensuring individual safety, privacy, and convenience.

A bill in the Illinois House of Representatives proposes giving residents the option of having a digital driver’s license, which could bring the days of needing to have your license in your wallet to an end. The legislation, introduced by Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner, would allow drivers to legally present a digital version of their driver’s license when requested by law enforcement during a traffic stop or checkpoint.

Illinois could become the next U.S. state to offer digital driver’s licenses. As smartphones become more commonplace across the entire population, digital debit and credit card payment applications have gone from a convenient alternative to an actual replacement for some people. The growing normalcy for handheld technology in our everyday lives has now created a demand to digitize another card in our wallets, our driver’s license.

Illinois may become the next state to offer a digitized driver’s license. House Bill 1110, introduced by Representative Kam Buckner, aims to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to permit the use of a digitized driver’s license. This would enable Illinois residents to show a digitized license to law enforcement officers during traffic stops or checkpoints, without the risk of receiving a citation for not having a physical copy.