California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 169 into law, expanding digital driver's license access from 15 percent to 60 percent of valid drivers. The measure took effect immediately after its signature on July 13, 2026. State officials created the law to modernize Department of Motor Vehicles processes, cut paper usage, and expand electronic service channels.
The expanded pilot program allows millions of state drivers to store an official digital version of their driver's license or state identification card on their mobile phones. The mobile driver's license is free and accessible through the CA DMV Wallet application. Drivers can also use compatible options in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet.
To obtain a digital license, drivers must hold a valid, non-suspended physical card and a MyDMV account. Users scan their physical card and complete identity verification on their mobile phones. The digital license allows passwordless login to dmv.ca.gov and works at more than 800 locations across California for identity checks, age verification, and compatible online services.
Accepted Locations and Digital Wallet Compatibility
Different digital wallets support different services across California:
- CA DMV Wallet: TSA airport security checkpoints, in-person DMV readers, Clover, Verifone, or Toast retail terminals, TruAge age-restricted purchases, dmv.ca.gov online services, California Community Colleges enrollment, financial aid, or account recovery, and disabled parking placard applications.
- Apple Wallet: TSA airport security checkpoints, in-person DMV readers, Turo car rentals, Uber passenger verification, TurboTax password recovery, DocuSign, Epic MyChart, and United Airlines.
- Google Wallet: TSA airport security checkpoints, in-person DMV readers, Clover, Verifone, or Toast retail terminals, dmv.ca.gov online services, Turo car rentals, Uber passenger verification, and TurboTax password recovery.
- Samsung Wallet: TSA airport security checkpoints.
Participating California Airports
TSA security checkpoints accept digital driver's licenses at 16 participating California airports. Travelers must still present their boarding pass alongside the digital license. Acceptance can vary by airport, airline, business, or card reader, so officials advise drivers to confirm rules beforehand and carry their physical license.
The participating facilities include:
- Arcata-Eureka (ACV)
- Meadows Field, Bakersfield (BFL)
- Hollywood Burbank (BUR)
- Del Norte County, Crescent City (CEC)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- Long Beach (LGB)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Palm Springs International (PSP)
- Redding Municipal (RDD)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- San Luis Obispo County Regional (SBP)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Mineta San Jose International (SJC)
- Sacramento International (SMF)
- John Wayne/Orange County, Santa Ana (SNA)
California law requires drivers to carry their traditional physical license card at all times while driving. The digital version on a smartphone does not replace the physical card. Drivers must present the physical card to law enforcement officers upon request during traffic stops.
How to Activate the CA DMV Wallet App
Drivers can download the free CA DMV Wallet application from the App Store or Google Play onto phones running iOS 14 or higher or Android 9 or higher. Applicants select the mobile driver's license enrollment option and photograph both the front and back of their physical California license.
The registration process requires applicants to take a selfie and follow on-screen liveness detection prompts. DMV validation takes up to three business days. The department sends approval notifications through phone alerts and email messages sent to the address linked to the user's MyDMV account.
For successful registration, drivers should photograph their undamaged license on a dark, flat, well-lit surface with all four corners visible. Selfies require a plain background, good light, no hats or dark glasses, and no camera filters or battery saver modes. Drivers under 18 years old or those with expired, suspended, or damaged licenses cannot register remotely.
Department of Motor Vehicles Operational Changes
Senate Bill 169 introduces broader administrative updates to cut department costs and administrative friction. The DMV can now send notices and documents electronically to drivers who provide an email address and opt out of postal mail. The department will also end the obligation to print physical driving handbooks, publishing rules of the road on its website instead of distributing free printed copies at local offices.
The law caps civil fines for camera-captured violations in lanes linked to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic routes at $293. These traffic camera violations will not add points to driving records, nor will they cause license suspensions, revocations, blocked renewals, or blocked vehicle registrations. Additionally, the DMV cannot require a driving test during license renewal based solely on a driver's age.
California will join the State-to-State Verification Service to check driving records across states, helping process Real ID applications and detect duplicate registrations. The law also eliminates a fee of up to $15 for specific expedited services at the DMV headquarters in Sacramento. Finally, the measure updates disabled parking placard rules, including criteria for the size and visual contrast of expiration dates.
