ADOT MVD is first in the nation to offer four digital ID platform options

Nearly 7 billion people worldwide now use a smartphone, so it makes sense that the functionality of these devices continues to grow. The newest option is digital identification, or digital ID. Fans of technology, or just convenience, can choose to utilize digital ID and securely present it as a valid ID at select locations. 

Arizonans have the most choices in the country for storing and presenting digital identification. The recent announcement of Samsung Wallet being available to keep your digital license or ID in your smartphone means that Arizona is the first state to offer four such options. ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division first offered the mobile driver license (mID) in 2021, then in 2022 was the first state to give our residents the choice to add their ID to Apple Wallet, and this past October Google Wallet for Android devices became available for Arizona driver license or ID cards. 

Digital ID offers privacy and security features that physical IDs can’t. You can prove your age or identity without having to share additional personal information such as date of birth or home address. Plus, you can deactivate the ID on your smartphone if it is lost or stolen, unlike the physical wallet or purse.

You can present your ID through any of the three digital wallets at certain TSA airport security checkpoints. While mID can be used to confirm your identity at any Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office or online portal AZMVDNOW. Over time, we expect acceptance to grow. Much like ‘Tap to pay’ grew in popularity, ‘Tap to prove’ should also become more readily available over time. 

Even with these options to choose from, the technology is still new so you should continue to carry the physical driver license or state ID card to use in other situations, including with law enforcement and retail outlets. More information on Arizona driver licenses and state IDs in digital wallets can be found on the ADOT website: azdot.gov/DigitalIDs.