Quick Read · mDL

What Is a Mobile Driver's License (mDL)?

A Mobile Driver's License is a digital version of a driver's license stored securely on a smartphone — issued and protected using cryptography, and verifiable electronically.

mDLQuick ReadStandards
Overview

A license on your phone

An mDL contains the same identity information as a physical license but lives in your digital wallet instead of your wallet pocket.

Instead of handing over a plastic card, the holder simply taps their phone or scans a QR code to present the credential from their digital wallet. The verifier gets only what it asked for — nothing more.

Issued by

State DMV or licensing authority

The credential is issued directly by the government authority and delivered to the holder's digital wallet.

Stored in

Digital wallet on the holder's phone

Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, or a government-issued mobile ID app.

How it works

Request, approve, verify

Every mDL interaction follows the same three-step pattern.

  1. 01

    Verifier requests attributes

    The verifier specifies which identity attributes it needs — for example, name, date of birth, or an age-over-21 boolean.

  2. 02

    Holder approves the share

    The holder sees what is being requested and approves sharing from their wallet. Nothing is sent without consent.

  3. 03

    Verifier checks the credential

    The verifier validates the issuer's digital signature and trusted certificates to confirm the credential is authentic.

In person

NFC tap or QR code scan

The holder taps their phone to a reader or presents a QR code at a physical checkpoint.

Online

Browser and app flows

Supported wallet and browser flows using the Digital Credentials API or OpenID4VP.

Technical foundation

Built on global standards

mDLs are built on standards designed specifically for secure, interoperable digital identity.

Layer
Credential format
Standard
ISO/IEC 18013-5 mobile driver's license (mDL)
Layer
Data protection
Standard
COSE cryptographic signatures
Layer
Data exchange
Standard
ISO/IEC 18013-7 engagement protocols
LayerStandard
Credential formatISO/IEC 18013-5 mobile driver's license (mDL)
Data protectionCOSE cryptographic signatures
Data exchangeISO/IEC 18013-7 engagement protocols

These standards ensure the credential is authentic, tamper-proof, and issued by a trusted authority — and that any compliant verifier device can validate it without calling back to the DMV.

Why it matters

Faster, more secure, privacy-preserving

mDLs improve on physical cards across every dimension that matters.

Selective disclosure

Share only what is needed — confirm age over 21 without revealing the full date of birth, address, or license number.

Cryptographic proof

The credential carries the DMV's digital signature. Forgery is computationally infeasible.

Faster verification

A tap or scan completes the check in seconds. No manual card inspection required.

ℹ️
In short
A mobile driver's license is a secure digital credential issued by a government authority, stored on a smartphone, and verified electronically using global identity standards.