Open ID Book

Would I Use It Again?

Yes. I already do. I’d give it a solid 8 out of 10 for normal tasks. For tax stuff, it’s a win. For benefits, it’s handy. For plate renewals, I still had to do the old way. Maybe that will change.

Wait, what is “North Carolina digital ID”?

Quick plain talk: NCID is the state’s sign-in. It’s the account you use for a bunch of NC government sites. A “mobile driver’s license” (a license in your phone) is a separate thing. North Carolina has talked about it, and you may see demos, but it wasn’t widely accepted when I tested.

Battery Stuff: What If Your Phone Dies?

Express Mode kept working for me even when my phone hit 1%. I got into the ARC and Langson with a “dead” phone. It’s like power reserve for the ID. Still, I charge at night.

So… what is it, really?

It’s your driver license on your phone. I used the GET Mobile ID app, since that’s what Utah supports. I scanned my plastic card. I took a selfie with a head turn. It felt silly, but it checked I was me.