Persona is one of the first verification vendors to accept California's mobile driver's license
During identity verification, organizations typically have to decide between increasing security controls and improving user conversion. Tighter checks mean more abandonment, and smoother flows mean more risk. Most verification flow design is an exercise in finding the right tradeoff.
Mobile driver's licenses (mDLs) are different. Because an mDL is cryptographically signed by the issuing DMV and presented directly from a user's device, it's both faster to verify and harder to fake.
Persona is leading the way by accepting California mDLs and ID Cards presented remotely by the CA DMV Wallet app. The CA DMV Wallet is a state-issued app, separate from Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
What this looks like in practice
mDL verification can be a simple process for you and your users. Once you enable it in a verification flow, here's how it works for users:
Persona detects the CA DMV Wallet. When a user reaches a verification step in your Persona flow, Persona detects their CA DMV Wallet mDL and prompts them to share it. The verification works on both mobile and desktop web integrations, giving you flexibility in how users complete the process.
The user reviews and approves data sharing. The user reviews what data will be shared, which may be specific attributes rather than every field on their ID. The CA DMV may also ask for consent from the user to share the mDL.
Persona verifies the credentials. Persona follows ISO 18013-5 standards (the global standard for mDLs) to cryptographically collect and return structured identity data in the same format you're already using.
Persona applies existing verification checks. Persona treats the mDL as a verified and authenticated government credential and runs your required checks to complete the verification flow.
Because it plugs into Persona's Dynamic Flow (which adapts verification steps based on risk signals), you can use the mDL result as a signal to adjust other steps in real time.
Which use cases benefit from mDL verification?
While many organizations benefit from digital IDs, three use cases stand to benefit immediately:
Selling age-restricted products and experiences: Companies that need to conduct age verification (e.g., marketplaces, alcohol delivery, online gaming, and micromobility services) are a strong fit for digital IDs as they benefit from the combination of lower drop-off and stronger fraud signal.
Onboarding users at financial institutions: mDL data is validated against the DMV and can't be tampered with in transmission, which can make it a highly secure option for identity verification.
Workforce onboarding: Companies with remote or distributed teams have asked us for this capability. Background check workflows, I-9 verification, and contractor onboarding all benefit from a government-issued credential that's been cryptographically validated.
One integration for all Californians
California is the largest identity issuer in the nation with nearly 40 million residents. The state has already issued over 3.2 million mDLs, and Californians can use their mDLs in person at select airports, DMVs, and retailers. They can also use them to access online DMV services, apply to California Community Colleges, and (now) remotely verify their age or identity with Persona.
Persona was early to initiate mDL partnerships with major OEMs like Apple Wallet, Google, Samsung, and large DMVs. It's now one of the first commercial entities to join the California mDL Test Credential Program, a CA DMV initiative designed to accelerate industry adoption. Working directly with the CA DMV, Persona helped shape the real-world test environment that allows organizations to build high-quality mDL verification.
Persona also recently added AAMVA verification support for California (a real-time check against DMV records) to improve verifications for users with physical driver’s licenses. And as more states digitize their credentials and launch wallet programs, Persona will continue to handle the complexity so your flow keeps working without rebuilding anything.
Get started with CA mDL verification
If you're verifying Californians’ age or identity and want to accept the CA DMV Wallet mDL, reach out to learn more about adding it to your Persona flow.