WILMINGTON — The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles will be launching a digital version of drivers licenses and identifications by the end of 2026.
The free mobile IDs will be optional, offering users another way to provide identity information. Digital access is allowed under North Carolina law, as a mobile driver license is the legal equivalent of a valid physical one.
It will meet federal security requirements and international standards as well and can be used at more than 250 airports, with some law enforcement also equipped with compatible readers. However, retail, restaurants and other independent businesses may not accept them, due to lack of technology access.
The IDs are scanned by compatible readers to securely verify identification against NCDMV records. Users will be able to scan the ID from their phones; the reader is not equipped to also access other items on the mobile device — such as text messages, photos, apps, etc. NCDMV assures all digital IDs are secure and do not allow a mobile phone to be tracked.
The state expects to integrate mobile licenses into Apple, Google and Samsung wallets by early 2027.
More information about the mobile IDs is available here.
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