New Mexico has become the tenth U.S. jurisdiction to implement mobile driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple and Google Wallets, joining Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio, and Puerto Rico in offering digital credentials to residents. The expansion follows a broader national trend toward digital identity solutions that began when Apple first announced mobile ID support for its Wallet app in 2021.
The implementation allows New Mexico residents to add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to their mobile devices through a multi-step verification process. Users must scan their physical ID, complete a facial scan, and submit a digital application for verification before receiving their mobile credential. The process mirrors successful implementations in other states, such as Iowa’s mobile ID program, which has demonstrated strong adoption rates.
The digital ID system follows the ISO/IEC TS 18013-7:2024 standard for mobile driver’s licenses with privacy-focused design elements. When businesses verify age using the mobile ID app, they receive only the necessary verification information without accessing additional personal details such as exact birth dates. The selective disclosure capability represents a significant advancement in privacy protection compared to traditional physical IDs.
To facilitate adoption, the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division is distributing marketing materials to businesses promoting the acceptance of mobile IDs. “People are used to using their phones for so many things now, and, especially post-pandemic, the use of electronic wallets has grown tremendously for a lot of documents and payments,” said Maryland Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Administration Administrator Chrissy Nizer. The observation reflects the success of Maryland’s own digital ID program, which has expanded to include support for Samsung Wallet.
The Transportation Security Administration has emerged as an early adopter of the technology, accepting digital IDs at select airport security checkpoints nationwide. The implementation provides a significant use case for the technology’s practical application, with TSA PreCheck support being a key feature in several state programs.
The expansion of digital ID programs continues, with Montana and West Virginia expected to implement digital ID support in Apple Wallet. West Virginia has already launched a beta version of its digital driver’s license program, indicating continued momentum in the adoption of digital identity solutions across the United States. The implementations are part of a broader trend toward digital transformation in government services, with states increasingly recognizing the security and convenience benefits of mobile credentials.
Sources: Mobile ID World, Mobile ID World
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