myColorado - How to Verify Digital ID

How to Verify a Colorado Digital ID

We want to ensure that Coloradans, businesses, state agencies and law enforcement continue to trust the services and features available in the myColorado mobile app, including the Digital ID.

Just as there are safeguards to ensure the legitimacy of a physical driver license or ID, the app offers four quick, easy and secure options to confirm the Digital ID's legitimacy, including the newest addition slated for launch: the Colorado Digital ID Verifier.

Who Can Accept the Colorado Digital ID™?

If you work in Colorado, you can! On Oct. 30, 2019, Governor Jared Polis issued an Executive Order stating that the Colorado Digital ID may be accepted as a legal form of personal identification in Colorado.

Colorado State Patrol began accepting Digital ID on Nov. 30, 2020, and many local law enforcement agencies across the state accept it. Since the Digital ID is not accepted everywhere, Coloradans must continue to carry their physical driver license or state-issued ID card.

Verifying the Colorado Digital ID

Option 1: Colorado Digital ID Verifier

For Coloradans

Verifiers Signed In to the App

Verifiers Signed Out of the App

Option 2: Visual Check

Option 3: Scan Barcode

Option 4: Relaunch the App

Digital ID Verifier Training

Protecting Coloradans' Privacy

Option 1: Colorado Digital ID Verifier

A simple, secure way to verify authenticity!

Coming December 16, this feature enables Coloradans and Verifiers (e.g., businesses, state agencies, etc.) to verify the authenticity of the Digital ID within myColorado. Coloradans simply present a secure QR code from their Digital ID, and Verifiers scan it using their mobile device's native scanner or their own myColorado app—signed in or not.

After scanning the QR code, Verifiers will receive a message on their device indicating "Success" or "Verification failed," depending on the validity of the Digital ID. A successful scan confirms one thing: a real Digital ID issued by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles through the myColorado app.

If a "Verification failed" message is received, Verifiers should request to see a different form of identification, such as a physical driver license, state-issued ID or passport.

Failed Verification Screen Suggesting to Retry or Request Physical Identification

Three sets of step-by-step instructions are provided below for Coloradans, Verifiers who are signed in to the myColorado app and those who are not.

For Coloradans

After accessing your Colorado Digital ID within myColorado, follow these three steps to use the Colorado Digital ID Verifier.

Step 1: Tap the green Verify this ID button at the top of your screen.
Step 2: Tap the green Present QR code button at the bottom of your screen.
Step 3: Show the Verifier your QR code for scanning.

After scanning the QR code, the Verifier will receive a message on their screen indicating "Success" or "Verification failed," depending on the validity of your Digital ID. If your Digital ID does not pass verification, the Verifer may ask for your physical driver license, state-issued ID or passport.

Screenshots of the Colorado Digital ID Verifier process for Coloradans are below:

Step 1: Tap the green Verify this ID button at the top of your screen.

Step 2: Tap the green Present QR code button at the bottom of your screen.

Step 3: Show the Verifier your QR code for scanning.

Verifiers Signed In to the App

Follow these steps if you work for a business, state agency or other type of Verifier and are signed in to the myColorado app.

Step 1: Navigate to the Wallet tab and tap the green Verify button at the bottom right of your screen.
Step 2: Tap the green Scan QR code button at the bottom of your screen.
Step 3: Scan the ID holder's QR code.
Step 4: A "Success" or "Verification failed" message will appear on your screen to confirm the authenticity of the Digital ID. If the Digital ID does not pass verification, ask for the holder's physical driver license, state-issued ID or passport.

Screenshots of the Colorado Digital ID Verifier process for those signed in to the app are below, including an example of a successful verification:

Step 1: Navigate to the Wallet tab and tap the green Verify button at the bottom right of your screen.

Step 2: Tap the green Scan QR code button at the bottom right of your screen.

Step 3: Scan the holder's QR code.

Step 4: A "Success" or "Verification failed" message will appear on your screen.

Verifiers Signed Out of the App

Follow these steps if you work for a business, state agency or other type of Verifier and are signed out of the myColorado app.

Step 1: Access a QR code scanner, available on the myColorado home screen or your device's native scanner. If you are using the myColorado scanner, tap the Verify button at the bottom right of your myColorado home screen.
Step 2: Scan the ID holder's QR code.
Step 3: A "Success" or "Verification failed" message will appear on your screen to confirm the authenticity of the Digital ID. If the Digital ID does not pass verification, ask for the holder's physical driver license, state-issued ID or passport.

Screenshots of the Colorado Digital ID Verifier process for those signed out of the app are below, including an example of a successful verification.

Step 1: Tap the Verify button at the bottom right of your home screen.

Step 2: Scan the ID holder's QR code.

Step 3: A "Success" or "Verification failed" message will appear on your screen.

Option 2: Visual Check

Look for Colorado Digital ID's built-in security features. If you don't see them, the ID could be fake.

Check for the "Live View" feature at the top of the screen, which displays a pulsating green dot, along with the current date and time.
Rotate the phone and look for the floating Columbine flower hologram to move.
Tap and hold on the ID. The date of birth and license number will temporarily enlarge, and if applicable, so will the 21+ indicator.
Look for familiar physical driver license features, such as the “Exec. Dir. Dept. Rev.” signature on the left and the birthdate printed over the mini-portrait in the bottom right.

The Digital ID has enhanced security features, including "Live View"

Option 3: Scan Barcode

Scan the barcode on the back of the ID, just like a physical license.

Swipe left on the Digital ID to show and/or scan the barcode. (iPhone users: “Reduce Motion” must be turned off. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and make sure it's greyed out.)
If it’s genuine, only the Digital ID will move. The rest of the screen will stay still.

Swipe left to show the Digital ID barcode

Option 4: Relaunch the App

Ensure an authentic ID is being presented by doing one or more of the following.

Ask the holder to close and reopen the myColorado app to show their Digital ID.
For added assurance, ask the user to sign out and sign back in to the app with their username and password.
Or ask the user to navigate to other parts of the app, such as the Services, Search, or More tabs, using the bottom navigation bar.

Ensure an authentic ID is being presented by doing one or more of the following. Android Devices: Addition Check

Long-press the myColorado app icon and tap the ⓘ icon.
Scroll to the bottom of the App Info screen.
It should say “App downloaded from Google Play Store.” If it says anything else, it’s not the real deal.

Digital ID Verifier Training

It's important for cashiers, bartenders, food servers, pharmacy staff, and other employees who regularly accept identification to be familiar with the Digital ID. If you have questions or would like access to training content, please send an email to myColorado@state.co.us. We’ll be happy to work with you to help employees quickly and easily check the Digital ID.

Protecting Coloradans' Privacy

myColorado users can hide information within the Colorado Digital ID that is not relevant for a particular transaction. For example, if age verification is required to purchase alcohol, users can choose to hide their address - or even their birthdate - as a privacy measure. An indicator located on the Digital ID confirms whether or not customers are over 21.

If there is suspicion that a Colorado Digital ID is fraudulent, the phone cannot be confiscated. However, merchants may ask to see the physical driver license or state ID card.