California has raised the enrollment ceiling for its mobile driver’s license pilot from 15 percent to 60 percent of the state’s licensed drivers, creating room for a fourfold expansion of the digital credential program.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the change as part of SB 169, a broader Department of Motor Vehicles modernization measure. The higher cap does not automatically enroll drivers or make the mobile credential mandatory. It expands the number of Californians who may choose to obtain an mDL while the program remains in its pilot phase.
California launched the program in August 2023 through the CA DMV Wallet. It has since added support for Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, and extended the credential to Samsung Wallet this spring. State officials say more than 3.5 million residents have applied for an mDL on one or more approved platforms.
The credential can be presented at participating Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, participating businesses and selected online government services. It supports selective disclosure in some transactions, allowing a holder to confirm information such as name or age without showing all of the data printed on a physical card.
California still tells users to carry their physical driver’s license or identification card. A REAL ID-compliant credential is also required when an mDL is used for domestic air travel, reflecting the distinction between a digital presentation method and the legal status of the underlying credential.
The cap increase comes as the DMV expands security features across both mobile and physical IDs. The agency recently introduced digitally signed barcodes on newly issued cards, enabling compatible readers to verify that encoded information has not been altered.
SB 169 also changes several conventional DMV processes. It authorizes the department to reduce certain mailed notices, stop printing physical driver handbooks and modernize renewal communications. Other sections address transit operators and preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The increase in permitted mDL scale is the bill’s main identity provision. The original limit constrained adoption even as additional wallet providers and relying-party uses became available. Moving the ceiling to 60 percent gives the DMV considerably more capacity to test issuance, presentation and interoperability across a population large enough to support broader acceptance.
Sources: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
