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North Carolina is building a mobile ID and we want your input.
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Myths about mobile IDs
MYTH: I will have to hand my phone to a police officer.
FACT: No. If you choose to use your mobile ID, you keep your phone in your hand. The officer can verify your ID using a secure reader or by having you tap your phone to their device. You never have to hand over your device.
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 North Carolina, 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. Your mobile ID is designed to protect your privacy—not to track your activity. Presenting your mobile ID does not create a record that allows the DMV or other government agencies to monitor where, when or how you use it. You decide when to present your credential, and only the information needed for a specific transaction is shared. Only you can see an activity log of how your credential is used on your phone but that is only available to you and can be turned off. In fact, mobile IDs are designed so the places where you use your ID cannot report that activity back to the DMV.
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.
Earlier this year, NCDMV selected a vendor to support our modernization efforts, including the development of a mobile ID and digital wallet. We expect to launch North Carolina mobile IDs in December 2026—to be used for holiday travel.
At launch, North Carolina mobile IDs will only be available in the official NC Wallet. We expect support for Apple, Google and Samsung Wallets to follow in early 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.
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.