Nowadays, practically everything you need for your daily life is accessible right at your fingertips and conveniently stored on your smartphone. In fact, a recent poll from Forbes shows that more Americans now use digital wallets to make purchases than traditional payment methods.
As more of our lives continue to migrate toward a digital environment, it opens the question of what else will become primarily digital, like proof of identity documents.
Continue reading below as we take a look at the rise of mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs), how widely they’ve been adopted so far, and what future trends for digital identity verification might look like.
What are Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs)?
Mobile driver’s licenses, or mDLs, are digital forms of identification that can be securely stored on a person’s mobile device.
Essentially, mDLs contain the same information as a physical ID, like an individual’s name, address, date of birth, and driving privileges. When a person needs to verify their identity or age, they can transmit the necessary information from secure storage on their mobile device to the verifying party using a reader device.
Thus, the idea is that you can use an mDL just as you would the familiar plastic ID card. When you’re going through airport security, purchasing alcohol, renting a car, or opening a new bank account, you can present your mDL to the verifying party to confirm your age, identity, etc.
What are the Advantages of mDLs?
As mentioned above, the key difference of an mDL is that you don’t have to possess physical credentials to verify your identity. With 91% of Americans owning a smartphone, mDLs provide an added layer of convenience using a device that’s already incorporated into their daily routines.
Plus, mDLs can be updated by the appropriate agencies in real-time without requiring the physical ID to be re-printed and sent in the mail. This makes it much quicker and easier for individuals to update their credentials as needed, like if they move and need to change their address, for example.
At the same time, mDLs can’t get lost, damaged, or compromised as easily as physical IDs. mDLs also enable individuals to share only relevant information with the receiving party, a feature that many privacy-conscious individuals might appreciate. For instance, they may only need to share their date of birth when verifying their age, not their home address. This way, individuals can avoid providing unnecessary access to personal information that could be exploited if it falls into the wrong hands.
Which States Have Adopted mDLs?
The adoption of mDLs is still in the early stages in most jurisdictions in the United States, though there is plenty of momentum building for this digital identity solution. Among the areas where these solutions have already grown in popularity, mDLs are seen as a more convenient and secure way to store and manage credentials.
To better understand how mDLs are being used across the country, here’s a quick overview of which states have introduced mDL programs based on information provided by mDL Connection, a resource provided by the Secure Technology Alliance:
Early Adopters
As of late 2024, eight states have active mDL programs with interoperability across operating systems. This includes:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Maryland
- New York
- Utah
- Virginia
Depending on the state, individuals can securely store and access an electronic version of their driver’s license or state ID card for TSA checks at the airport, age verification, and other official purposes.
Ongoing Adoption
Aside from the early adopter states, there are a handful of other jurisdictions across the country that are pursuing pilot mDL programs or are currently implementing interoperability, such as:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
What are the Limits to Adoption?
Considering the impressive convenience of mDLs, it might seem like consumers and organizations would be quick to jump at this new technology. However, there are some roadblocks that will need to be addressed to support more widespread adoption, even as interest in mDLs rises:
- Privacy concerns: Individuals may be worried that their personally identifiable information (PII) is stored properly on their devices and that they’re only sharing necessary data with verifying parties.
- Device dependency: Organizations and individuals may not like the idea that consumers must possess a functioning smartphone to present their identity documents. If their phone is dead or they leave it behind, they would be unable to prove their age or identity.
- Digital infrastructure: Institutions may not have the desire or resources to implement the necessary tech infrastructure to support identity verification via mDLs. They may not think the efficiency and convenience benefits of mDLs outweigh the cost of purchasing and implementing the necessary equipment and training employees to use them effectively.
- Limited interoperability: Consumers may face interoperability challenges when traveling between states or countries that have different levels of mDL adoption and supported applications.
Will Physical IDs Disappear?
Despite any near-term hiccups, there’s no doubt that the rise of digital identities and mDLs will continue over the coming years. At the same time, some experts don’t anticipate plastic IDs and paper identity documents completely disappearing.
A more practical outlook is that mDLs and physical IDs will be used in parallel rather than completely replacing each other. For instance, if you live in one of the eight states where mDL programs are fully active, you probably won’t throw out your plastic ID card. You’ll use the MDL for convenience where accepted, like the airport, while keeping your physical ID for situations where digital verification isn’t yet supported. While long-term adoption rates are still uncertain, mDLs do show promise, and various factors like consumer trust, technological capabilities, and state legislation