NY DMV says driver's licenses now available on mobile phones

NY DMV launches mobile IDs

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that it is launching mobile IDs that will work to verify your identity at both LaGuardia and JFK Airports. FOX 5 NY's Richard Giacovas got an up-close look at the new technology.

NEW YORK - New York State's DMV is now allowing residents to have their driver's licenses and state IDs on their mobile devices.

"Everything is on your cell phone these days, and now, your ID can be too," DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said during a Tuesday press conference.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles announced Tuesday that it is partnering with IDEMIA Public Security North America to launch mobile IDs for New Yorkers.

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"We know security lines are a major source of anxiety for our customers. That's why we were so proud to be announcing mobile ID with our friends at TSA and NY State DMV," officials said Tuesday.

The Mobile ID app, or MiD, will be available to both iOS and Android users.

New York mobile ID

State residents can use the app (MiD) to verify their identities directly from their mobile phones at TSA checkpoints at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), as well as 25 other participating airports around the country.

Some believe mobile licenses – or digital IDs – will give people more privacy by allowing them to decide what personal information they share.

Eight states, including Arizona and Colorado, currently offer mobile licenses to their residents, and 11 other states are in various stages of development.

How to use New York MiD app

The app promises to provide a contactless way for users to verify their identity while protecting their privacy and ensuring security.

Mobile ID holders can access their ID by unlocking the app using their facial recognition or a personal six-digit PIN.

Officials said that users are in full control of how much of their identification is shared at a given time.

The new mobile ID will not replace the physical card right away, so users are encouraged to bring their physical license just in case.

Anyone who has a valid, state-issued driver's license, learner permit or non-driver ID can download the secure Mobile ID app through Google Play or the App Store.