Give Yourself the Gift of a Mobile Driver’s License this Holiday

Contact: Office of Public Affairs
2415 First Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 657–6437 | dmvpublicaffairs@dmv.ca.gov

Download the California DMV Wallet on your smartphone before heading to the airport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2023

Sacramento – Before traveling this holiday season, give yourself the gift of a California DMV Wallet/Mobile Driver’s License (mDL). The mDL offers a quick and secure identity-check at select airports without handing over your phone or your driver’s license. More than 300,000 Californians have downloaded the mDL since the California Department of Motor Vehicles launched an expanded pilot program in August.

If you are a TSA PreCheck passenger, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) now accepts the California mDL at United Airlines security checkpoints at Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) international airports. San Jose International Airport (SJC) and 25 airports nationwide also accept the mDL. Just show the mDL to TSA, scan the QR code and proceed through screening.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has made it easy for iOS and Android phone users to download the CA DMV Wallet App to create a mDL. To get started, access or create your “MyDMV” account at www.dmv.ca.gov/mdl, have your valid California driver’s license or identification card handy, and use the camera on your smartphone for authentication. Download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

The CA DMV Wallet/mDL is a voluntary pilot program, limited to 1.5 million participants. The mDL does not replace a physical driver’s license or state-issued identification card but gives Californians another convenient option for identity verification and more control over how they share their information. Pilot participants still must carry their physical card, though acceptance and uses of the mDL will continue to evolve. The DMV is working with interested groups to encourage broad acceptance of the mDL.

Age Verification Enhancement: You can also use your mDL to buy age-restricted products, like beer and wine, at select locations in Sacramento and Los Angeles once you activate the TruAge capability in your CA DMV Wallet. Simply share your TruAge QR code at the checkout counter, while protecting your privacy.

Watch this informational video to learn more about the CA DMV Wallet and Mobile Driver’s License: DMV Wallet/Mobile Driver’s License Informational Video – YouTube.

###