How To Add Your ID to Google Wallet
The advent of smartphones has brought about both positive and negative changes in our lives. While there are instances of misusing technology for activities like car thefts for social media fame, there are also genuinely useful applications that subtly enhance our daily routines. One notable app is Google Wallet, which enables you to securely digitize various cards from your physical wallet, including concert tickets and sports event passes.
Until recently, it wasn’t possible to store your driver’s license in Google Wallet. However, if you reside in Maryland, you can now add your ID to the app. Even if you live outside of Maryland, there’s a high likelihood that Google Wallet will soon support your state, as approximately half of the country has already implemented or plans to roll out a mobile ID program.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to add your ID to Google Wallet. So, let’s dive in!
Basic Steps to Add your ID to Google Wallet
- Launch the Google Wallet app on your smartphone.
- Tap on the “Add to Wallet” option.
- Select “ID card” from the list of available options.
- Choose the state ID or driver’s license you wish to add to your Wallet. (Note: Currently, only Maryland IDs are supported.)
- Verify your ID by scanning the front and back of the card.
- Record a short video demonstrating that you own both the phone and the ID.
- Send the application to your state for processing.
According to Google, the verification process for your ID should only take a few minutes.
What lies ahead for mobile IDs?
It’s challenging to predict the future of any emerging technology, and digital identification is no exception. The ultimate determining factor is widespread acceptance. Currently, each state has its own electronic infrastructure for handling IDs, their usage, and verification processes, which poses a significant obstacle to nationwide adoption.
While a Colorado digital ID may be valid for traffic stops within certain localities in Colorado, the recognition of digital driver’s licenses across state borders presents a different set of challenges.
However, there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The Real ID Act, initiated in 2005, aims to enhance the security of state-issued IDs for accessing federal facilities and boarding airplanes. Additionally, it requires states to share their ID databases with one another. While not all states are on board with this data sharing requirement, the involvement of major states like California, New York, and Texas could pave the way for broader acceptance and usage of digital IDs beyond local boundaries.
The potential benefits of this technology are significant. Imagine the convenience of waving your phone over an NFC reader instead of showing your driver’s license, complete with personal address details, to a bartender. Similarly, when applying for jobs, employers would only need to know your eligibility to work without requiring knowledge of your residential address.
Although these possibilities currently remain a distant dream, the technological groundwork has been laid. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if your state’s ID becomes the next one added to Google Wallet in the near future.
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