ID Verification in Mobility Services: Elements, Challenges, Regulations

The Mobility as a Service (MaaS) industry has seen significant advancements over the past decade, with carsharing, ridesharing, and micromobility solutions expanding their reach. However, with rapid growth comes increased responsibility, and inadequate security measures can lead to serious risks, including criminal activities and data breaches. For instance, India’s Ola Consumer rideshare service has faced criticism due to security lapses that resulted in privacy violations and even assaults.

This highlights the ongoing need for robust identity verification (IDV) mechanisms in mobility services.

In this article, we will explore the current state of ID verification in mobility, its challenges, relevant regulatory developments, and emerging technologies that enhance the process.

The Importance of ID Verification in Mobility Services

The modern mobility industry cannot function without strong identity verification processes. Businesses must ensure they know who their partners, employees, and customers are to prevent fraudulent activities and maintain trust. Effective IDV helps platforms operate securely, comply with regulations, and provide reliable services.

Key Use Cases for ID Verification in Mobility Services

Carsharing

Carsharing services require driver's license verification as a fundamental security measure. However, many companies now implement additional checks, such as reviewing driving history and penalty points. Many also partner with third-party verification services to automate and improve accuracy.

Ridesharing

Both driver and passenger verification are crucial for ridesharing platforms. Drivers must undergo multi-step verification, including license checks, criminal background screening, and vehicle registration validation. Some platforms implement continuous random driver verification to prevent unauthorized individuals from using another person’s account. Passengers are also increasingly required to verify their identities to combat identity fraud and impersonation.

Micromobility

Electric scooter and bicycle providers often face challenges verifying whether users meet age requirements, particularly since younger demographics frequently use these services. Age verification is typically achieved by analyzing government-issued ID data. Some companies are now experimenting with continuous validation models that periodically recheck user eligibility to prevent unauthorized access.

Core Elements of ID Verification in Mobility

Modern ID verification in mobility services goes beyond matching a name to an official document. Instead, a multi-layered framework ensures security and compliance, including:

Document Authentication

Verifying government-issued IDs, such as driver’s licenses and passports, is the first line of defense. Solutions like Regula Document Reader SDK detect anomalies and authenticate security features, such as holograms and optically variable ink (OVI).

Biometric Verification

Facial recognition adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that the person using an account matches the registered individual. Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft use facial recognition to prevent unauthorized access and reduce fraud.

Age Verification

The system extracts birthdates from ID documents and checks them against age requirements for different mobility services. To prevent minors from using someone else’s ID, biometric verification is often employed to compare the document photo with a live selfie.

Database Cross-Referencing

Many platforms integrate with government and third-party databases to validate user-provided information. For example, India’s Ola cross-references driver’s license data with Parivahan Sewa, the national transport database.

Recent Regulatory Developments in Mobility ID Verification

As mobility services grow, so does regulatory scrutiny. Governments worldwide are introducing stricter regulations to enhance user safety, prevent fraud, and ensure data privacy.

European Union

In May 2024, the EU amended the eIDAS Regulation to establish the European Digital Identity Framework. This initiative aims to standardize identity verification across member states, requiring EU-based mobility services to integrate with the European Digital Identity Wallet. In response, countries like Poland have mandated stricter driver verification processes, such as biometric verification and criminal record checks, with companies like Freenow implementing these measures.

United States

The U.S. takes a fragmented, state-based regulatory approach. New York City may soon mandate license plates for e-bikes and scooters following a rise in accident-related fatalities. Meanwhile, California enforces strict data privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), requiring mobility providers to disclose data processing practices and offer opt-out mechanisms.

Australia

Australia’s Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) expanded in 2024 with the rollout of myGovID. Mobility platforms can now integrate with this government-backed identity system for secure license verification. For instance, car rental services in Sydney can use myGovID for seamless, compliant authentication.

Middle East

The UAE's Smart City initiatives have led to Emirates ID integration with mobility services. Providers like Careem must verify user identities using Emirates ID and cross-check biometric data with government databases.

South Korea

South Korea strengthened its Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) in 2024, requiring explicit user consent for each data usage instance. Ridesharing platforms must now implement dynamic age verification measures.

Challenges in Mobility ID Verification

Despite advancements, mobility services face several challenges in identity verification:

Identity Fraud Detection

Fraudsters use sophisticated techniques, such as counterfeit document production and synthetic identity fraud, where real and fake information is combined to create a false identity. AI-generated deepfake fraud is also an emerging threat, leading mobility platforms to adopt liveness detection technologies.

Balancing Speed and Accuracy

Users expect quick ID verification, but prioritizing speed can lead to errors and security risks. Striking a balance between seamless user experience and fraud prevention is crucial.

Maintaining User Trust

Users demand transparency regarding how their data is collected, stored, and used. Ensuring security while minimizing verification errors—such as false positives and negatives—is key to maintaining trust.

The Role of Technology in Modern Mobility ID Verification

Hardware Solutions

For mobility businesses with physical verification centers, document readers like the Regula 70X9 enhance efficiency and accuracy. These devices utilize optical character recognition (OCR), MRZ scanning, and automatic authenticity control to detect fraudulent documents.

Software Solutions

Robust software solutions streamline the verification process while ensuring compliance. Regula Document Reader SDK processes document images, verifies authenticity, and detects tampering. Meanwhile, Regula Face SDK enhances security with biometric verification and liveness detection, preventing fraudulent access through photos, video replays, or deepfake attempts.

Conclusion

As the MaaS industry continues to expand, secure and efficient identity verification remains crucial. With increasing regulatory requirements and evolving fraud tactics, mobility platforms must invest in advanced IDV solutions to protect users, ensure compliance, and maintain trust.

Regula provides industry-leading solutions for seamless and secure ID verification. Book a call today to learn how we can help enhance your verification process!