Frequently Asked Questions: DMV Wallet / Mobile Driver's License (mDL) ID Verification
The following FAQs were compiled from the Enhanced Student identity Verification Webinar - Oct 22, 2025
General Information and Purpose
Q: What is the DMV Wallet verification process?
The DMV Wallet verification process, which uses the Mobile Driver’s License (mDL), is a key step to confirm your legal identity before submitting your college application. This process offers an additional option for identity verification alongside ID.me, which was integrated directly into the OpenCCC and CCCApply workflow in February 2024.
Q: Why should I verify my identity?
Identity verification is designed to enhance security and streamline enrollment. Benefits include:
Strengthens Security and protects against fraud, ensuring every student account is verified and secure.
Speeds up admissions and financial aid verification and processing.
Uses official DMV identity standards approved for federal verification.
Enables access to full CCC system benefits and services.
Q: Is identity verification mandatory for college applicants?
Identity verification is not mandatory at this time. However, required identity verification is coming soon (likely early next year, per the Board of Governor's direction). When required, students and colleges will receive additional guidance on identity verification for those students who cannot complete the electronic process.
Q: How does DMV verification relate to ID.me?
DMV identity verification will be the preferred, first-choice option for applicants. However, ID.me will remain as an available option for verification. Only one verification method is needed. Students can use the text on the CCCApply Verification screen to determine which method is best for them. A detailed description of advantages of each tool is located on the Identity Verification with the OpenCCC Student Account System | Choosing Your Verification Method page.
Q: Does the preferred name on my application affect the validation process?
The verification method the mDL uses relies on the information on the user’s Driver’s License. The student has to enter their legal name that matches their ID in the mDL application. But Preferred Name in CCCApply or OpenCCC will not impact the student’s verification status.
Q: Will the implementation of the new California ID affect the DMV Wallet verification?
The California DMV manages this process. For more information, see https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-to-release-new-california-drivers-license-and-identification-card-design-with-advanced-security-features/.
The Verification Process
Q: How do I start the DMV Wallet verification?
You start in OpenCCC by creating a new account or signing into your existing one. After logging in, you will be directed to the "Verify Your Identity" page, where you choose the DMV Wallet option to continue.
Q: Will each state have something similar to verify ID?
The Technology Center is currently focused on California licenses only and do not have information on other states.
Q: What percentage of students completed ID.me verification before submitting their application?
It varies month to month, but typically 20% to 30% of students successfully complete ID.me verification prior to applying. It’s possible that DMV Wallet verifications will have the same success rate.
Q: What are the main steps for verification using DMV Wallet?
Start in OpenCCC
Begin by creating a new OpenCCC account or signing into your existing one.
After login, you will be directed to the “Verify Your Identity” page.
Choose DMV Wallet
Select the DMV Wallet option to continue with identity verification.
Download the DMV Wallet app using the provided button.
Scan a QR code that appears on your screen using your smartphone to open the DMV Wallet application.
NOTE: a smartphone is required for DMV Wallet verification. Students who do not have access to a smartphone should use ID.me verification, which can be completed on a computer.Sign in or create a DMV Wallet account.
Confirm your name, date of birth, and California driver's license information.
The process includes scanning your CA-issued driver’s license or ID card and performing a liveness check with biometric information (selfie-match).
After successful verification, you will be automatically redirected to your CCCApply application, and your OpenCCC profile will display a "Verified" status.
One you are verified, the DMV will not require any additional documentation.
Q: How fast is the DMV Wallet verification process?
Once the Mobile Wallet app is downloaded and the user account is set up, the verification process takes under 90 seconds. The whole process, including downloading the app, is typically completed within a few minutes.
Q: What technical requirements do I need to use the DMV Wallet?
You need a smartphone to download and access the DMV Wallet app, even if you are completing the application on a desktop computer. You must have the DMV Wallet app installed and updated, and your device must meet certain operating system requirements (e.g., Android 9 or higher with NFC hardware, or iPhone XS or later with iOS 17.5 or later).
Q: Does my Mobile Driver's License (mDL) need to be updated?
Yes, your mDL needs to be updated or refreshed periodically for the best experience. The app requires a monthly interactive update process. If the refresh is not completed, you will be unable to use your mDL.
Q: How does the DMV Wallet verification affect the fraud score in the SPAM filter?
Upon launch, the applications will be treated similarly to the ID.me verified accounts, where the verification status influences their score/fraud status but does not completely control it. We are reviewing this business logic with plans to update it once we have some data to help us determine the best path forward.
Q: What are the common errors found that prevent you from validating an ID?
The Technology Center does not validate identification. The process is entirely handled through the California DMV. The mDL Q&A page may have helpful information regarding the validation process.
Eligibility and Special Populations
Q: Can undocumented students use the DMV Wallet verification?
Yes, the DMV mobile wallet supports AB 60 driver's licenses, making the tool useful for undocumented students as a streamlined way to verify identity.
Q: What about students who are minors (under 18)?
Users under 18 (including Dual Enrollment students) will not be presented with the option to verify their identity at this time. Instead, they will be taken directly to the college application. Their accounts / applications will be reviewed and verified using a different process. If students under 18 wish to verify using DMV Wallet, they must complete in-person verification at a DMV office with a guardian.
Q: Are Unhoused Youth (UHY) and Foster Youth students eligible for DMV Wallet verification?
Individuals under 18 will not be prompted to verify through the DMV Wallet process. Homeless or Foster Youth who are 18 or over can verify with DMV using the mDL as long as they have a valid California Driver's License or California ID card.
Q: What if I don't have a California Driver's License?
You can use ID.me as an alternative option. The current focus of the mDL verification is on California. Over-18 students without a government-issued ID will need to be verified through existing local college processes.
Q: Can I use a learning permit for verification?
No, learning permits are not valid for identity verification. Students must wait until they are granted their license.
Q: What if someone has already tried to steal someone's identity in the past and then the legitimate individual tries to apply afterwards? Will this turn into a manual review process?
Those who have experienced compromised or stolen identities may have to work with their colleges to verify in-person / manually.
Q: Can multiple people use the same phone number? Will a Google Voice number work?
Phone numbers are not part of the DMV verification process, so there should be no restriction on that. However, OpenCCC does have some restrictions on duplicate phone numbers (must be unique if used for MFA in OpenCCC).
Q: Federal Student Aid has said they would allow electronic processes for financial aid identity verification. Is ID.me or mDL connected with FSA for FA verification approval?
Yes. Some colleges are already using this option.
Verification Status and Re-verification
Q: How long is the identity verification valid?
Verification is valid for 12 months from the confirmation date.
Q: How long does the verification process take?
Once the Mobile Wallet app is downloaded and the user account is set up, the verification process takes about 90 seconds.
Q: When will I need to re-verify my identity?
You will be prompted to re-verify if:
More than 12 months have passed since your last verification.
You have changed your name, address, phone number, email address, Social Security Number, or date of birth in your OpenCCC account.
A verified applicant later exhibits suspicious behavior (in this case, please contact the Technology Center for assistance)
To re-verify, sign in to OpenCCC, select “Re-Verify,” and follow the DMV Wallet prompts.
If a student continuously attends college for more than 365 days, they only need to re-verify if they are reapplying to a college.
Q: If I apply to multiple California Community Colleges, do I need to verify for each application?
No, students only need to complete ID verification one time. Verification is tied to the student's OpenCCC account and applies to multiple colleges.
Q: Can I complete the verification after submitting my college application?
Yes, you can return to OpenCCC to perform the verification process after submitting your application. If you opt out initially, your status will show as "Not Verified," and financial aid and certain services may be delayed until verification is completed.
Q: What happens when a student was previously at our college under one name, but then left for a few years and is now reapplying with a new name and the ID is under the new name?
Those students will be able to update their DMV mobile driver’s license with the new information and re-verify.
Q: A student will become unverified if they change their name, DOB, or address on their CCCApply account. What happens when they change that information on their Driver’s License?
When the student changes their account data in OpenCCC (which is what we call the account portion of the user experience), their OpenCCC verification status will become unverified. Changing information on their Driver’s License will not cause a change to the verification status unless the student reapplies to a college.
Support and Troubleshooting
Q: Where should I go for technical help with the DMV Wallet app or mDL setup?
The DMV Wallet is primarily a self-service option. You can use the following DMV resources:
DMV Wallet Help Center (dmv.ca.gov/dmvwallet), which offers step-by-step guidance and FAQs.
mDL Assistant Chat for in-app support and live troubleshooting.
In-Person Support available at select DMV offices statewide.
You can also get help via a chatbot or live agent by selecting the "Ask DMV" tab displayed on every CA DMV website page (agents available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time).
Q: Where can I get help for general CCCApply or OpenCCC account issues?
For assistance with creating an OpenCCC account, completing a CCCApply application, or
for general application/account help, visit the California Community Colleges Help Desk at http://ccchelp.info.
Q: What if I encounter a technical issue during the verification process?
If you encounter an error, you should close and reopen the DMV Wallet app before retrying. If problems persist, restart your device and return to OpenCCC to reinitiate verification. If you are still unsuccessful, you are recommended to use the ID.me option instead, or contact DMV Wallet support or your college’s Admissions Office for assistance.
Q: What documents are typically used for DMV Wallet verification?
The DMV Wallet process typically uses your California driver’s license (standard or AB 60). DMV Wallet follows federal NIST standards for identity verification.
Q: Can ID.me or DMV Wallet also be used to verify to obtain a Student ID card?
The DMV mobile wallet also has a reader option that you can use on your campus. The documentation linked here provides information about that. Please let the Technology Center know if you intend to implement this so we can share your experience with other colleges.
Q: If a student opts out from verifying via mDL and ID.me before submitting an application, will they have the option to verify through mDL shortly after submitting an application?
They can return to OpenCCC in order to perform the verification process after submitting their application. The verification won’t be in the application data payload, but it will be sent via superglue if your college is configured to receive it.
Q: How does the pilot site work with DMV Wallet?
The pilot site works with the production (real) DMV data.
Q: Some returning students are not being prompted to verify themselves, and their applications are being marked as SPAM. How can we have these students verify themselves?
You can re-direct the students to OpenCCC and ask them to verify. Once they do, you will receive a SuperGlue notification alerting you that they have become verified. You can also get this data via a scheduled report if you are not consuming the SuperGlue events.
Q: Will it be possible to see verified students at other colleges or districts?
Verifications are tied to an individual, so a college will only see the student’s verification status if that student has applied to your college.
Q: What happens if DMV Wallet rejects a student’s ID?
If a student is unable to verify their identification with DMV Wallet, then the student would need to verify their identity in person at a participating DMV office. If in-person verification is not an option, the student can verify with ID.me or verify manually with the college.
Data and Security
Q: What data does the college receive after DMV verification?
The verification status is the primary data element shared. The student’s picture is not shared by the DMV. The college will receive the identity verification status (e.g., Verified, Unverified, Expired, etc.) and the verification source (DMV or ID.me).
Q: If I verify my identity, does that guarantee my application won't be flagged as fraud?
Multiple factors are assessed to detect and flag fraudulent applications. Though no single factor guarantees an application will not be marked as fraud, completing identity verification is the most effective step in reducing likelihood an application is marked as fraud.
Q: What is "Staff Verification"?
College staff may verify certain students if they cannot complete the electronic DMV verification. Examples include minors, incarcerated students, and individuals without a valid, unexpired California DMV license/document. Staff-verified accounts remain active for 12 months or until the student re-verifies independently.
Known Issues
Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
Veteran students that already have an ID.me account with the Dept of Veteran Affairs are not able to use that same verification with CCC Apply. | The Technology Center will raise this issue with ID.me, as users of the service are supposed to be able to quickly re-verify if they have already been verified by another agency. |
Verification does not work with CA Virtual Campuses. | Integration with California Virtual Campuses is in the roadmap and will be implemented in a future release. |
ID.me verification can take more than 24 hours. | The Technology Center has no control over the timing or features of ID.me. If a student has trouble verifying through ID.me, and DMV Wallet is not an option, that student must contact the college for manual verification. |
The following is a list of known issues relative to the status change notifications. Fixes for these issues are currently under-development now. A planned release will be communicated to the colleges in the coming weeks.
Type or Format | Issue | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Change Logic | Currently, a manual change or update to a Verified student’s middle name <middle_name> in their Account Profile will cause them to become unverified and will trigger a status change notification. This is an error. Middle Name should not be included in verifications status changes. | The CCCTC is working to remove Middle Name <middle_name> from the verification status change logic |
Events Payload | Several Account Profile fields that affect a student’s verification status are not included in Event payload schema. These fields are needed to identify the reason behind a status change that triggered the delivery of an UPDATE_PROFILE event.
| The CCCTC is working to add the following data fields to the Events payload schema:
|
Events Payload | The Events payload schema is lacking the full suite of Account Profile fields needed to interpret the UPDATE_PROFILE event type notification, whether the event pertains to verification status or not. The fields that need to be added are:
| The CCCTC is working to add the following data fields to the Events payload schema for the UPDATE_PROFILE event type:
|
Identification Verification Status Change Report | Internal issue causing the intermittent display of duplicate status change records on the Identification Verification Status Change Report. | This is an internal IdP system issue currently being investigated and prioritized. Work-around will be provided to colleges until a solution is confirmed. |
Identification Verification Status Change Report | An issue regarding some verification timestamps being overwritten for verified students when they did not reverify or make multiple sign-ins to after being verified. | Spike: Developers are investigating why some timestamps are being overwritten when verified students are not reverifying or changing Account data. |