(FOX40.COM) — Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that California is expanding its mobile driver’s license pilot program to include Samsung Wallet, offering millions of Android users a new way to carry identification on their smartphones.
Gov. Newsom stated that the expansion, led by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, adds Samsung Wallet to existing mobile license platforms, which already include Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and the state’s own DMV mobile wallet.
Gov. Newsom said the move reflects California’s ongoing effort to modernize government services and adapt to evolving technology.
“Technology isn’t slowing down, and neither is California,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement. “This expanded pilot reflects our commitment to meeting Californians where they are with secure, convenient tools that protect privacy and modernize how government serves them.”
Image: Newsom Press Office
The mobile driver’s license, or mDL, provides a digital version of a physical license or identification card that can be stored on a smartphone. State officials reported that the program currently has about 1.7 million active users, with roughly 900,000 using the DMV’s proprietary wallet.
The digital IDs can be used at select Transportation Security Administration airport security checkpoints, participating retailers and for certain online government services, including logging into MyDMV without a password and accessing services at California community colleges.
Officials noted that residents must still carry a physical license, and a REAL ID is required for those who plan to use a mobile license for domestic air travel.
The Samsung Wallet integration is currently limited to select TSA checkpoints, though more locations are expected to be added.
DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a press release that the program enhances both convenience and privacy by allowing users to share limited information when verifying identity, such as confirming age without revealing a home address.
The announcement is part of a broader push by the Newsom administration to modernize the DMV. Officials added that since 2019, the state has expanded online services, reduced in-office wait times and introduced new digital tools aimed at improving customer experience.
The mobile driver’s license program launched in 2023, and more than 3.5 million Californians have applied to participate across approved platforms, according to the governor’s office.
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