Your phone will soon be replacing your driver’s license in North Carolina. Officials plan to officially launch digital licenses this December, with Charlotte Douglas among the first places accepting them.
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles says the new Digital ID will be free and optional, initially accessing the new mobile license through the North Carolina Wallet app.
At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, travelers will eventually be able to use the credential during TSA identity verification. A handful of other states are already accepted at TSA checkpoints at CLT.
The technology works similarly to mobile payment systems, allowing users to verify their identity through their phones.
State officials say the Digital ID is also more secure than simply storing a photograph of a license.
Acceptance is expected to expand beyond airports over time, including law enforcement interactions, ABC store purchases and age verification at restaurants and other businesses.
