ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s relatively new digital identification application is apparently being scrapped while state leaders look to find a new app developer for the program. The state has now removed the Florida Smart ID app from app stores.
In May, News 6 investigated the Florida Smart ID app.
Florida is one of only a handful of states that uses the technology. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles told News 6 that more than 521,000 people have used the app, which was launched in 2022. According to state data, there are more than 18 million licensed drivers in the Sunshine State.
The agency said it hired the Thales Group to develop the app, and it spent $1,953,000 for the application development.
Our investigation found that many businesses and even some police departments in the state were unaware of the app or did not always accept the Florida Smart ID as valid identification.
In June, a News 6 viewer reached out, saying the app was suddenly no longer working. The department offered this explanation to users:
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is working to enhance services to its customers. The agency will be revising its Florida Smart ID application. Once a new vendor is selected, improvements will be made to the Florida Smart ID application.
At this time, FLHSMV is removing the current Florida Smart ID application from the app stores. If you have downloaded the app, please delete it from your device, as it will no longer be functional. Please note, your data remains secure with the Department.
We expect the new app to be developed by early 2025 and will notify you via email at that time.
News 6 has reached out to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for more information on why the agency is making the change and how much this will cost taxpayers and are still waiting for a response.
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