Californians can now add their driver’s license to their phone through DMV program

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is allowing California residents to enroll in its pilot program for mobile driver's licenses. This program, called mDL, lets Californians add their Driver's License, or other government-issued identification, onto their Apple or Google Wallets.

mDL is currently authorized for limited usages. Several airports are enrolled in the program, though Palm Springs Airport is not yet participating. According to the Transportation Security Administration, TSA agents will accept the mDL during bag drop, security checkpoints, and/or at the boarding gate.

The issue in the Coachella Valley: most businesses do not accept the mDL program yet. There are also no law enforcement agencies that accept the digital license.

Despite the current lack of access, the program signals a shift to what could soon become the norm.

"As more Californians join in, more retail establishments will be willing to accept it, which will cause more demand, which will cause programs to grow. So we are very hopeful about the future of digital identity," says Anita Gore, a spokesperson with the DMV.

For more information on the program, you can visit the DMV's website.