RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is launching Virginia Mobile ID, which allows Virginians to access their driver’s license on their cellphones.
“We live in a day and age where people are carrying their smartphones more frequently than they’re carrying their wallets,” said Virginia DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey.
This trend is expanding with the use of Virginia Mobile ID, which scans your physical driver’s license and gathers the information from the card to create a QR code.
“That QR code allows your phone to connect with another device,” Lackey said. “That forms a connection, which allows them to verify your identity.”
Lackey said the app will just show your face and QR code when you need to show your driver’s license.
“You’re going to be able to use it at pretty much any TSA checkpoint across the country, which includes all of the airports in Virginia,” said Lackey. “You’re going to be able to use it at any DMV location. When you come in and you tap, it will automatically pull your information into the system and should start to streamline the forms.”
In addition to getting through TSA checkpoints at more than 250 airports across the country, Lackey said Virginia State Police can use the QR code if you get pulled over.
The app can also be used to confirm your age at the following Virginia ABC stores in the Richmond area:
- Scott’s Addition – 3100-A W Broad St, Richmond
- Carytown – 20 S Nansemond St, Richmond
- VCU area – 1217-1219 W Broad St, Richmond
- Short Pump Crossing – 3450-3452 Pump Road, Suites 21 and 22, Henrico
- The Shoppes at Bellgrade – 11400 W. Huguenot, Road Suite 121, Midlothian
- Ironwill Centre – 9953 Ironbridge Rd, Chesterfield
- Oak Hill Plaza – 3063 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond
- Brandy Creek Commons – 6589 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville
- Pole Green Commerce Center – 7407 Pole Green Road, Mechanicsville
“You’re now only sharing the information that you want to share,” said Lackey. “When you’re tapping to verify your age, all that your device is telling the other device is it says yes, this person is over 18 or yes, this person is over 21. It’s not giving your exact birthdate.”
Work is underway to add this perk to the digital wallet, a plan Lackey said is all part of the growing digital age.
“I do expect over a span of 10 to 15 years, we will start to see more and more interoperability and the ability to use this across states and across countries,” said Lackey.
Virginia Mobile ID is free to download through the App Store or Google Play. For more information about Virginia Mobile ID, click here.
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