About North Carolina mobile ID
North Carolina Mobile ID is a secure, digital version of your driver license or state ID that you can carry on your phone. Under North Carolina law, a mobile driver license is the legal equivalent of a valid physical driver license.
Your mobile ID is built to meet federal security requirements and international standards for how digital IDs are issued, protected, shared and verified. These common standards also allow compatible readers to securely verify mobile IDs issued by North Carolina and other states.
You are in control of your identity. NCDMV verifies your identity and issues a secure digital credential that you control. You choose when to use it and what information you share.
It is a simpler, more private way to prove who you are. And if it means leaving your wallet at home someday, we will not complain.
Myths about mobile IDs
MYTH: To show my ID to a police officer, I will have to hand my phone to a police officer.
FACT: No. When showing your mobile ID, your phone stays in your hand. If the officer has a compatible reader, you can securely present your mobile ID using a tap or QR code. The reader only receives the information from your mobile ID—it cannot access your photos, messages, apps, contacts or anything else on your phone.
Not every law enforcement officer will have a mobile ID reader right away. If an officer does not have a reader, you can provide your driver license number and other identifying information verbally or write it down for the officer. The officer can then use that information to look up your record and complete their standard checks. Either way, you do not need to hand your phone to the officer to show your ID.
MYTH: Can law enforcement access my phone when I show my mobile ID?
FACT: No. To present your mobile ID, you keep your phone in your possession and do not hand it to the officer. If the officer has a secure reader, they can verify your mobile ID through a tap or by scanning a QR code.
The reader cannot unlock or access your phone. It cannot see your photos, messages, apps or other information on your device. It only receives information from your mobile ID.
If the officer does not have a reader, you can provide your driver license information verbally or in writing. You still do not need to hand over your phone to show your ID.
MYTH: A mobile ID is just a picture of my driver license.
FACT: A mobile ID is much more than a photo. It is a secure digital credential issued by NCDMV that turns the information on your physical ID into data you can securely share. You control when you share your information and what information you share. A mobile ID cannot be verified just by looking at your screen—it must be securely checked using approved technology.
MYTH: Everyone will have to get a mobile ID, and physical driver licenses are going away.
FACT: Not true. Mobile IDs are completely optional. Your physical driver license or ID card will continue to be available and accepted. In NC, a mobile ID is legally equivalent to a physical ID—it simply gives you another secure and convenient way to prove your identity if you choose to use one.
MYTH: Digital IDs can be used to track how and when I use my ID by the government
FACT: No. NCDMV cannot see where or when you use your mobile ID. When you present your mobile ID, it does not “phone home” to NCDMV or create a record for NCDMV showing where you used it.
You are in control of when you present your ID and what information you share. Your phone can keep an activity log for you, but that information stays on your device, is only available to you and can be turned off.
Mobile ID FAQs
A mobile ID is a secure digital version of your driver license or state ID stored on your smartphone. When you choose to use it, your phone securely shares only the information needed with an approved reader.
At launch, North Carolina mobile IDs will be available through the new NC Wallet. To get yours, download the wallet, scan your physical driver license or ID and take a selfie. We will compare your information with NCDMV records to verify your identity. Once verified, your mobile ID will be issued directly to your wallet.
Once your mobile ID is issued, it will stay up to date. If information on your driver license changes — for example, if you add a motorcycle or CDL endorsement — your mobile ID will update automatically.
Your mobile ID is a valid form of identification in North Carolina. However, as retailers, restaurants and other businesses transition to mobile IDs, some may not be set up to accept them right away. For now, carrying your physical card gives you a backup when needed. You should also check the rules in other states when traveling.
At launch, North Carolina mobile IDs will be accepted at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at more than 250 airports nationwide, including Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport, as well as at NCDMV locations.
We expect acceptance to continue expanding throughout 2027 as more businesses and government agencies begin supporting mobile IDs.
A mobile ID is legally equivalent to a physical ID. If a law enforcement officer does not yet have a compatible reader, they may ask you to verbally provide the information from your driver license during a traffic stop.
NC Wallet allows North Carolina to launch mobile IDs sooner while we complete the separate processes required to offer IDs in Apple, Google and Samsung Wallets. We expect those options in 2027.
The NC Wallet is designed to grow beyond your mobile ID. Over time, you will be able to add other government-issued credentials, receive helpful reminders and notifications and more easily access government services—all from one place.
North Carolina mobile IDs will be available at no additional cost to anyone with a valid North Carolina driver license or state ID.
Yes. Your mobile ID is protected by the security features already built into your phone. Before your ID can be shared, you will need to authenticate using Face ID or your fingerprint.
No. You keep your phone in your possession and do not hand it to the officer. The officer uses a secure reader to verify your mobile ID through a tap or by scanning a QR code.
The reader cannot unlock or access your phone. It cannot see your photos, messages, apps or other information on your device. It only receives the information from your mobile ID needed for the interaction.
Your mobile ID is protected by your phone’s security features and cannot be used just because someone has your phone. You must be there to unlock and use your mobile ID with Face ID, your fingerprint or your passcode. A photo or copy of your mobile ID will not work in its place.
If your phone’s battery dies, you will not be able to use your mobile ID because you must unlock your phone and verify it is you before presenting it.
If you get a new phone, you can securely add your mobile ID to your new device and remove the previous device using your NC Wallet.
With a physical driver license or ID, anyone you hand it to can see all the information printed on the card—including your name, address, date of birth, organ donor status and driver license number.
With a mobile ID, you are in control of your information. Nothing is shared without your approval. You will see what information is being requested and choose whether to share it.
For example, if a business just needs to know whether you are over 21, your mobile ID can simply confirm that you are—without sharing your exact birth date, address or other personal information it does not need.
Our goal is to give North Carolinians greater control over their identity. NCDMV verifies your identity and issues a trusted digital credential that you control, making it easier to prove who you are, access services and better protect your privacy.
And if one day it means you no longer need to carry your physical driver license in your wallet, we will not complain.