Starting Nov. 18, North Haven residents will be able to carry their Connecticut driver’s license or state ID on their phones. That’s when the state Department of Motor Vehicles launches Connecticut Mobile ID, a free app. The DMV announced the date on Oct. 29.
The app will be in the App Store and on Google Play. It works for a driver’s license, a learner’s permit or a state ID card. The DMV wants you to keep carrying the plastic, though. “Mobile ID is designed to complement, not replace a physical driver’s license or identification card,” the agency said. “Residents should continue to carry their physical credential.”
Where it works on day one
The main place it’ll be useful right away is the airport. When the app launches, the Transportation Security Administration will accept Connecticut Mobile ID at participating checkpoints nationwide, the DMV said. That includes Tweed New Haven Airport and Bradley International Airport.
It won’t be accepted in a lot of other places yet. Here’s what the state says:
- Police: Law enforcement will not accept Mobile ID as a substitute for your physical license, so keep the card with you when you drive.
- Voting: Mobile ID can’t be used for voting. If you’re voting Tuesday, Nov. 3, it isn’t an option anyway, since the app doesn’t launch until Nov. 18.
- Stores, bars and restaurants: Businesses don’t have to accept it. The state says acceptance “will initially be limited.” A business that does accept it needs a compatible verification app to check it.
- No flashing your screen: The DMV says Mobile ID “cannot be used … as a flash pass.” Showing a picture of your license isn’t enough. The business has to verify it electronically.
So if you’re picking up a bottle of wine at a North Haven package store or ordering a beer on Washington Avenue, plan on showing the card for now.
How to set it up
You’ll need your physical license or ID card to set up the app. Before your Mobile ID can be used, the app requires you to unlock it with Face ID, Touch ID or a six-digit PIN. The DMV says your personal information is “stored securely on your device,” not inside the app itself.
When a business or TSA officer asks to verify your ID, the app shows what information is being requested, and you decide whether to approve or decline. The DMV recommends checking exactly what’s being asked for before you approve it.
What the state is saying
“Digitizing IDs is another step forward,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in the announcement. DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera said the department is “excited to be moving our Mobile ID project over the finish line.” He said he hoped to see the program grow, with more places accepting it and more residents using it.
The state Department of Consumer Protection licenses businesses that check IDs, like liquor stores. It said it will spend the next month giving those businesses information on accepting mobile IDs. “We will provide these businesses with the information and resources they need to ensure compliance with our laws and regulations while still embracing this new technology,” DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said.
Details are on the DMV’s Mobile ID page at portal.ct.gov/dmv/mobile-id.
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