Highways

A mobile driver’s license is a digital form of identity documentation that meets the standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as described in the ISO/IEC 18013 series (https://www.iso.org/standard/69084.html). Use of an mDL is limited to REAL ID-compliant credentials and is voluntary. Issuing authorities in Hawaiʻi will continue to issue physical cards and Hawaiʻi residents choosing to use mDL must continue to carry their physical card.

A mobile driver’s license (mDL) or digital identification is an authenticated digital version of your REAL ID complaint driver’s license or state identification card. The process involves capturing a photo of the front and back of your identification card and following your device’s procedures for biometric verification. This information is then sent securely to the issuing authority to authenticate the digital ID. A government entity or business can then use a mobile reader to check if a digital ID is valid and belongs to the person presenting it. See https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/22_0131_st_next_generation_identity_mobile_drivers_license_factSheet_11.4.21.pdf for more information.

The information used during the authenticating process is temporarily stored on the digital wallet provider’s server and sent to the issuing authority for verification. Once the information (e.g., selfie, video of head and facial movements, subset of data from the physical ID) is sent to the issuing authority with the request to verify it is deleted from the digital wallet provider’s server. The data is compared against the information already stored by the DMV for authentication. After the authentication, the issuing authority and the digital wallet provider are not able to see when or where a user presents their mDL.

If a user loses their physical license, sensitive ID info is exposed. However, if a user loses their phone with an mDL on it, the user can remove all applications from their phone remotely or request the issuing authority void the mDL, which will remove the Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Even if the mobile device cannot be wiped remotely, additional protections are in place. Typically, a passcode or biometric is required to access a device, and the mDL will have the recommended additional security features and privacy protections. Furthermore, with mDL, you only share the information needed for the relevant party, so your information is shared less. For example, doctor’s offices can retrieve an address without gathering license number. The less information that is shared, the less likely PII is to be compromised. In addition, the mDL contains a cryptographic key pair used to prove that the mDL is not a clone, or that the mDL data is not replayed. This will prevent a user’s mDL from being stolen and reused easily.

As always, best practice is to keep your personal information in a safe place, limiting what you carry (e.g., leave your social security card at home unless you need it for a specific reason), don’t share personal information unless you initiate contact, pick up mail quickly, and use different and strong passwords for online accounts.

No. Legislation, rulemaking, procurement of readers, and training is required before mDLs can be used in response to a lawful order by an officer.

Yes, you can use a mobile driver’s license (mDL) even if your device is not connected to the internet. mDLs are designed with offline functionality to ensure they can be used in various situations, such as when you’re in areas with no connectivity.

1. Offline Storage: The mDL is stored securely on your device, so it can be accessed without needing an internet connection.
2. Offline Verification: When you present your mDL, the person or system verifying your identity can scan or read it without requiring an internet connection.
3. Updates: While the mDL can function offline, it might periodically need to connect to the internet to receive updates, such as renewing the license or updating security features.

This offline capability ensures that mDLs remain practical and reliable, similar to traditional physical licenses.

Best practice should your mobile device be lost or stolen is to sign into your account online and disable your wallet. mDL users should also immediately contact the issuing license authority to disable your mDL.

Within Hawaiʻi, digital driver’s licenses and state identification cards are currently accepted at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at the Terminal 1 Makai Checkpoint of the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Apple Stores in the U.S. and in select apps that require identity or age verification.

Yes, if the jurisdiction accepts mDL you can indicate you have one; however, you should always be prepared to provide a physical card.