SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) announced that Digital Driver’s Licenses, also known as mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) issued by GA DDS, can now be accepted as a valid form of identification for proof of identity when used for age-restricted purchases at participating retail locations.

Use of the mDL is a convenient option for customers and retailers.

• What this means for consumers: You can now legally use your mDL as a form of ID when purchasing age-restricted products at businesses that choose to accept them.
• What this means for retailers: The Georgia DOR Alcohol and Tobacco Division’s informational bulletin confirms that mDLs are a valid form of identification that retailers can accept to verify age.
• Important considerations:
  • Acceptance of mDLs is at the discretion of the individual business (the retailer).
  • mDLs are a supplement to physical IDs, not a complete replacement, especially when driving.
  • The mDL is a secure, digital version of your physical license, issued by the DDS and stored on your smartphone.

DDS Commissioner Angelique B. McClendon said, “By embracing the Georgia Digital License and ID, we’re providing Georgians with a secure, convenient new option to prove their age, one that keeps pace with 21st-century technology while still prioritizing accuracy and safety.”

The Georgia Department of Revenue Alcohol and Tobacco Division recently confirmed that mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) or Digital Driver’s Licenses are a valid and acceptable form of identification for alcohol and tobacco retailers. For more information, see the DOR Bulletin at this link: https://dor.georgia.gov/alcohol-tobacco-1/alcohol-tobacco-policy-bulletins

According to Georgia Code however, “all drivers must have his or her driver’s license in his or her immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle and law enforcement can require drivers to display their physical driver’s licenses. Therefore, the Georgia Digital License and ID is not a replacement for your physical card when you are driving a vehicle.”

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