Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation directing the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to create digital driver’s licenses and digital non-driver identification cards.
Digital driver’s licenses, known as mobile driver’s licenses, are accessible on smartphones and other mobile devices, and also allow residents to update their documents electronically.
The new legislation makes participation voluntary, ensuring those without access or interest can continue using physical licenses.
The law contains several protections against the collection, use, retention, sharing, sale, or disclosure of any information obtained in the creation or the digital documents as well as measures to prevent tampering, duplication, and unauthorized access to data.
The bill outlines protections afforded to holders of a digital license/non-driver ID. Users cannot be required to turn over their electronic device, including to law enforcement, to verify identity. The measure also provides that displaying the digital license or ID does not imply consent to a search or access to other phone data.
“Digital driver’s licenses will make life easier for drivers across New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy.
The state has allocated $1.5 million towards implementing the new license system.
The prime sponsors of the New. Jersey legislation were Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, Assemblyman William Sampson IV, Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, then-Senator Nellie Pou, and Senator Patrick Diegnan.
Mobile driver’s licenses are gaining traction with states. New Hampshire recently passed legislation to go into effect January 1, 2026 instructing its Division of Motor Vehicles to create a system for offering mobile licenses and non-driver identification cards.
According to IDScan, these states already offer some form of digital identification or license: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Utah, and West Virginia, along with Puerto Rico.
While the number of states offering the mobile option is growing, enrollment in many of these states thus far has been low, according to a report by the publication, Government Technology. Only about 7 out of every 100 eligible people sign up. The report cites too few places where they can be used as well as privacy concerns among the reasons for the low enrollment to date.
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Topics
Personal Auto
New Jersey
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