US States Trial MDLs

In a growing trend of soft-launching Mobile Driving Licences (MDLs) prior to general public release, two US states are currently trialling their state identity documents with select groups of businesses.

Iowa DOT

The state of Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is testing its Mobile ID app with businesses and other groups to confirm it has the tools needed for identity verification. The app is set to roll out to the public fully in the next month.

Iowa’s new Mobile ID.

Mobile ID is essentially a digital version of the State ID card or driving licence. The DOT stresses that this acts as a backup to your physical ID, not a replacement. Not all Iowa businesses are able to accept Mobile ID verification, so they advise keeping your physical ID on your person as you normally would.

The Mobile ID system uses an encrypted QR code to verify and share your information with participating groups and businesses. You can also choose to only share information that you want to share through privacy settings (for instance, having your age verified without having to share your address or birthdate).

Beyond the immediate global benefits of identity verification, there is an additional use in the US for age verification. One store owner in the state said: ‘If it helps you do what you have to do, which is check IDs, I think that could sort of relieve some of the pressure and having to determine whether somebody is of age to buy alcohol or tobacco in your store.’ 

California DMV

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is testing mobile driving licences and hopes to launch them by the end of the year.

The DMV is currently running a pilot program with 500 participants, and the number of participants is expected to expand gradually in the coming weeks.

The MDL will be available in a DMV Wallet on smartphones and will serve as a companion identification to the physical driving licence. The MDL is not intended to replace the physical licence but provides Californians with an additional convenient option for identity verification.

In the current test phase, the MDL is being accepted at certain TSA (Transport Security Administration) lanes in select airports, including San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Jose International (SJC). The MDL can also be used at specific retail locations that utilise TruAge identification verification for age-restricted product purchases.

A note of caution here, that not all store locations will accept the MDL yet, so individuals must still carry their physical driving licences.