New Yorkers who want a convenient mobile version of a driver’s license can now apply for one. On Tuesday, the state of New York made it official launched a mobile ID program in New York, allows you to digitize your driver’s license, learner’s permit, or other state-issued ID for storage on your smartphone. The New York Mobile ID application is available for Iphone And Android phone.
Completely voluntary, the new mobile ID will be accepted by TSA security checkpoints at nearly 30 airports across the country, including all terminals at LaGuardia and New York’s JFK airports. The goal is to help you prove your identity more quickly and easily by scanning your smartphone at the TSA identification reader.
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All information on the physical ID will be accessible on the mobile version. This means the license type (REAL ID, Enhanced ID, or Standard ID), type (D, E, A, B, or C commercial), organ donor status, veteran status, etc. will be available. available depending on which details you choose to share.
The move towards mobile ID has begun in 2021 with Apple’s push Apple Wallet app as storage for state IDs and driver’s licenses. At that time, the initiative included eight states – Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah. Since then, several other states have launched or at least announced support for the program. Android users in participating countries can too add portable version of their license Go to the Google Wallet app.
One downside currently is that New York State mobile IDs are only accepted at certain TSA checkpoints and businesses that support them. But the New York Department of Motor Vehicles is working with various organizations and government partners to explain how the program works and how they can participate. Any public or private organization that needs to verify someone’s identity or age can apply to accept mobile IDs. However, it may take time before more organizations get involved.
Another concern is privacy. How secure is mobile ID?
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The New York Mobile ID portion you shared looks nothing like the image of your driver’s license. Rather, it appears as a QR code designed to be scanned. Unlike a real ID, the person looking at the mobile ID cannot see any details on your license.
Furthermore, the data in Mobile ID is encrypted and is only accessible when you agree to share it. Scanning takes place over a secure digital connection, so there’s no need to hand your phone to someone else. You can also limit the data you want to share. For example, someone purchasing alcohol at a participating store could share their age through ID without sharing any other information, such as their name or address.
Additionally, using the Mobile ID app requires you to unlock the app via facial or fingerprint recognition or a six-digit PIN. All data about when and where you share your personal information is encrypted and stored only on your device.
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Additionally, DMV can push updates to the app whenever any information is changed, such as your address or driving status. This saves you from having to deal directly with the DMV.
How to sign up for the New York mobile ID program
- First, download the New York Mobile ID app from App store or Google Play.
- Open the app and select the type of ID you want to use. Next, register your device’s phone number. You can only use Mobile ID on one phone at a time. Enter the verification code to continue.
- Take a photo of the front and back of your physical ID using your phone’s camera.
- Take a selfie. The app will then check your photo and identification against the information on file with the DMV to verify your identity.
- Once your information is confirmed, you’ll be prompted to secure it with a six-digit PIN, although you can authenticate it with a face scan or fingerprint. Mobile ID is now ready for you to use.
Here’s how you use it at an airport TSA checkpoint.
Scan your phone at the TSA identification reader. You can tell if Mobile ID is supported because signs will indicate whether digital documents such as New York Mobile ID are accepted. Your smartphone shows you the details the TSA is requesting. Once you approve the request, the information will be transmitted. TSA officers verify your identity and flight status, and you can now continue on your journey.
