Ohio residents with Android devices can now add their driver’s license or state identification card to Google Wallet, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Ohio residents with Android devices can now add their driver’s license or state identification card to Google Wallet, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced.
The new option expands Ohio’s Mobile ID program, giving Android users a digital companion to their physical identification card. Participation is voluntary and free, but the BMV said users should continue carrying their physical ID.
“Ohio Mobile ID in Google Wallet is now the latest in a long line of new features that save time and make it more convenient for Ohioans to interact with the BMV,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement.
Ohioans can use a Mobile ID to verify their age or identity at participating businesses and venues, many state buildings, Ohio casinos and Transportation Security Administration checkpoints nationwide, according to the BMV.
The digital IDs can only be presented and validated using readers designed to decrypt the credentials, similar to tap-to-pay technology. Users can review what information will be shared before presenting an ID.
The BMV said digital IDs are encrypted on the device and protected through personal authentication. If a phone is lost or stolen, its digital ID can be removed using remote data-erasure features.
“Ohioans have been asking for an Android solution, and we are pleased to deliver it,” BMV Registrar Charlie Norman said. “Secure identity is foundational to our mission at the Ohio BMV, and we have spent the last several years designing this program to safeguard Ohioans’ privacy while providing cutting-edge convenience.”
To add an Ohio driver’s license or state ID, users can open or download the Google Wallet app, select “Add to Wallet,” choose “ID Card” and then select “Ohio.” The app will provide prompts to verify the user’s identity.
The BMV said the program follows national and international privacy, security and interoperability standards, allowing Ohio Mobile IDs to be used in other states that support digital identification.