Digital ID Demand Grows as TSA Expands Mobile License Readers, Thales Survey Finds

Thales has published survey results from more than 3,000 people in the United States and Canada on how residents use and view motor vehicle services.

The findings point to a steady shift toward digital options. About 65 percent of respondents said they are interested in mobile driver licenses or digital IDs. Nearly 70 percent indicated they would prefer those credentials come through an official government channel rather than a commercial mobile wallet.

That preference will likely gain more attention as U.S. states and Canadian provinces roll out mobile ID programs and as the Transportation Security Administration continues expanding readers for mobile IDs at airport checkpoints. Adoption could move quickly, especially as agencies push to shorten lines and reduce friction.

The study also looked at self-service tools. Two in three respondents said they have used or would be willing to use a kiosk to handle DMV transactions, with convenience topping the list of reasons. Generational differences were clear: 80 percent of Baby Boomers said they would use an online portal compared to 56 percent of Gen Z respondents, with older users showing higher digital engagement than the youngest group.

Privacy and data security remain sticking points. Respondents expressed caution about how personal information is handled, and younger users reported lower satisfaction with DMV services overall. For agencies, those signals suggest a need to focus on trust, not just technology.

“These survey results reinforce the critical importance of investing today in innovative technologies that are mobile, secure and trusted,” said Tyson Moler, Vice President for Thales Identity and Biometric Solutions in North America. “We’re ready to support agencies in transforming operations efficiently and effectively to build a future that their communities and residents can trust."

For security professionals, the survey is another reminder that digital identity is no longer a future concept but an active issue shaping government service delivery and, by extension, security infrastructure.