California Quadruples Eligibility for Its Digital Driver's License

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 169 on July 13, 2026, raising the participation cap on California's Mobile Driver License Pilot Program from 15 percent of license holders to 60 percent. His office described it as a fourfold increase. The change lifts the eligibility ceiling from roughly 4.2 million people to more than 16 million.

The credential, known as the mobile driver's license or mDL, lives in the CA DMV Wallet app. It is also supported by Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet, which was added in April 2026. More than 3.5 million Californians have applied since the program launched in August 2023, with roughly 1.7 million active mDLs statewide. Enrollment is free and voluntary, requires a valid unexpired California license or ID, and involves scanning both sides of the physical card followed by a liveness check.

Real limits apply. The DMV states the mDL does not replace the physical card, and its own FAQ states that law requires drivers to present the physical license to law enforcement. Age-restricted purchases using the credential are currently limited to select Sacramento retail locations. TSA accepts the mDL at 16 California airports including Los Angeles International, Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach, Ontario International and John Wayne.