The new California driver’s license/identification card design contains a digital signature in the form of a Verifiable Credential Barcode. Verifying this digital signature with a simple scan checks that the card is a real identity document issued by DMV and that the data in the barcode has not been tampered with.
Digital Signature Technology Provides:
-
Authenticity: a successful verification proves that the DL/ID card was issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and is not fraudulent.
-
Integrity: a successful verification proves that the data in the PDF417 barcode on the back of the card has not been tampered with.
-
Real-time status: the status mechanism on the digital signature allows real-time status checks, done in a privacy-preserving way.
-
Interoperability: built on open standards, these digital signatures can be checked by any organization capable of consuming Verifiable Credentials.
How to Check the Digital Signature on your DL/ID Document
-
Visite el sitio web de la Credential Verifier on a device with a camera, such as a smartphone. Have your DL/ID document at hand.
-
Select “Scan a Barcode Credential.”
-
Align the barcode on the back of the document in the camera field of view. Ensure that the barcode is in focus and appropriately lit without glare or other distortion.
-
After the scan, the website will update with a “Credential Verified” message and information about the digital signature and the DL/ID document.
Guide for Technical Implementers
Los Verifying Digital Signatures on California DL/ID Documents Guide (PDF) is intended for technical audiences interested in building a service that verifies these digital signatures; those interested in using existing tools to check a digital signature should visit the Credential Verifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
This means that the security feature on the card does not match the data in the barcode, or the digital signature itself has been corrupted. If you believe this is an error, bring your card to your local field office for a digital signature check.
This means that the DL/ID document has been revoked by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. If you believe this is an error, bring your card to your local field office for a digital signature check.
This means that the party that issued the digital signature in the barcode is not the California Department of Motor Vehicles or otherwise does not match what the verification site expects. If you believe this is an error, bring your card to your local field office for a digital signature check.
Bring your card to your local field office for a digital signature check.
The data in the barcode is protected by the digital signature – the text and photo on the card are not. When checking a digital signature, it’s important to make sure that the information in the barcode matches the text and photo on the card.
Yes, you can still use a DL/ID document that was issued before the digital signature feature was added as long as it is still a valid document.