CA DMV Wallet

California Department of Motor Vehicles

About this app

Now live in Pilot Phase – California DMV Mobile Wallet
Californians now have a secure way to present their driver’s license or identification card using their smartphones via a Mobile Driver’s License (mDL) digital credential.

California DMV Wallet gives you the control of the driver’s license data you share with others. For example, when buying age-restricted items, the app can confirm you are of legal age without having to share your birth date or address.

With mDL in your CA DMV Wallet, you can breeze through the TSA queue at the airports using your phone. You can also enroll in the TruAge program via the Wallet Marketplace to purchase age-verified products at a corner store near you (starting with select pilot locations in California and expanding nationally). The Wallet will soon be supporting online identity verification for government and commercial applications.

Designed with California's diverse population in mind, the CA DMV Wallet open-source platform uses state-of-the-art encryption algorithms and security technologies to combat fraud and reduce identity theft while improving privacy, transparency, and access for all Californians with a smartphone.

Important note: While the mDL can be used as an official state-issued ID, per the pilot scope approved by the California legislature, you must still have a physical driver’s license or identification card with you.

For more information, please visit: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/ca-dmv-wallet/

California DMV Wallet is free, easy, secure, and convenient

Your mDL needs to be updated every 30 days to get the best experience. You might be asked to refresh your mDL more often to receive the most up to date information. When the app prompts you to refresh your mDL, tap on the "Refresh Driver's License" button below your photo, then follow the instructions.

Ratings and reviews

Probably one of the worst apps I've ever used. Poorly designed, you can never tell if you've actually achieved your goal, and the tools they use to verify identity are a joke. Have fun taking 60 photos of yourself in varying light conditions so that they can finally reject the only photo it approves after 2 seconds.

system isn't set up well and the directions are unclear. started with a 'verify'screen that wanted something that wasn't specified ( eventually figured it out by trying a few different things). automatic picture settings didn't work as easily or as well as they should. The first time it refused. tried again and repositioned the camera to capture more of just my face and not my whole head and it went through. while this app might be helpful overall, interface and clarity need work!

I love the idea but the wallet app is too slow to use except for emergencies. It takes several minutes to load the app so if you're in line for the airport you need to step aside for the app to load. Also, it requires refreshing every month and unless you're opening the app monthly, it'll never be ready to use at the airport. Probably too much government red tape to do something practical like add the barcode to Google wallet just as credit cards can be.

What’s new

Improvements to DC API presentation
Added UI to indicate NFC interaction when reading a credential
User experience improvements to mDL lifecycle
App improvements when used offline
Additional Government preset added to the Reader page
General UI and URL updates for supported pages