Montana Launches Mobile IDs and Verifier App for Driver License Holders
Montanans can now carry their driver license or identification card on their smartphones. The Motor Vehicle Division of the Montana Department of Justice has launched a new digital credential called Montana Mobile ID, allowing residents to add their state‑issued driver license or ID card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. According to the agency, the optional digital ID provides increased convenience and security and is anchored to the individual’s physical license or ID card. The mobile ID can be used online, in‑app or in person to prove age or identity and is accepted at MVD exam stations and more than 250 TSA airport checkpoints across the United States【710593778027196†L116-L169】.
To enroll, customers must download the mobile ID app on their smartphone, scan their physical license or ID, take a selfie for facial verification and pay a fee of $19.99. Once approved, the digital ID remains valid for 10 years or until the underlying license expires. Because acceptance of mobile IDs is still limited, the Motor Vehicle Division recommends that drivers continue to carry their physical license or identification card. However, officials say the mobile ID offers several benefits: users can share only the information needed for a transaction (such as proof of age) and no more, the digital credential is protected by biometrics or a device passcode, and personal information is encrypted and not stored by the state.
Alongside the consumer app, the state has released a free companion called the Montana Mobile ID Verifier app. Businesses and organizations can use this verifier app to confirm a customer’s mobile ID by tapping or scanning their phone. The verifier displays only the information necessary to complete a transaction and helps prevent identity fraud. For example, a bar or retail store could scan a customer’s mobile ID to verify they are over 21 without seeing their home address. The MVD says the verifier app will be useful for merchants, government agencies and health care providers who need to confirm identity or age while respecting privacy.
Montana joins a growing number of states offering digital driver licenses. The move reflects national trends as airports and retailers adopt contactless identity verification technologies. The MVD notes that the mobile ID is an official state credential that meets federal REAL ID requirements, making it suitable for domestic air travel and entry into secure federal facilities. Still, because not all law enforcement agencies or private businesses are equipped to accept mobile IDs, motorists should keep their physical cards on hand as a backup. The agency encourages residents interested in a mobile ID to visit dojmt.gov or mtrealid.gov for enrollment instructions and to check which businesses and airports currently accept the digital credential.
By introducing mobile IDs and the verifier app, Montana aims to enhance convenience and security for residents while giving businesses a secure method to check identities. Officials believe the program will make everyday transactions—from purchasing age‑restricted products to checking in for flights—faster and more private. As more agencies adopt the technology, the MVD expects digital credentials to become an increasingly common way to prove who you are.