From credit cards and car keys to event tickets and transit passes, Apple’s iPhone can now hold all the physical objects you once crammed inside a pocket or purse. The latest credential the company lets you store in Apple Wallet is your driver’s license or state ID. Residents of several states can quickly add their ID to their iPhone or Apple Watch, then use it in place of the physical card in certain situations. Here’s what you need to know before you add your own.
Which US States Are Supported?
Many US states and territories offer digital IDs, but only a small portion of them are compatible with Apple Wallet. For instance, the New York Mobile ID app will be accepted by the TSA, but it doesn’t work with Apple Wallet. At this time, 12 US states and Puerto Rico participate in a mobile ID program that is compatible with Apple Wallet:
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Arizona
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California
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Colorado
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Georgia
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Hawai’i
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Iowa
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Maryland
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Montana
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New Mexico
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North Dakota
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Ohio
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West Virginia
How to Add a Driver’s License to Apple Wallet
Start by opening the Apple Wallet app on your iPhone. In the top-right corner, tap the plus (+) sign, select Driver’s License or State ID, then choose the state.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)
You’ll need to scan the front and back of your physical driver’s license. Once you submit the photos, you’ll be alerted whether you need further verification. This would involve scanning your face in the same way you would set up Face ID. In my experience adding my California license, I needed to hold the phone in front of my face and follow a few on-screen prompts. I was asked to tilt and lift my head, then close my eyes.
It might not be clear while you’re going through the process, but nothing from these face scans are attached to your digital driver’s license. The photo that’s taken will not be shown on your ID. Once you’re finished, you’ll need to wait for confirmation. There’s no status page, but you should get a notification on your phone when the license is available in the app.
If your application is rejected, you can try again. The California Department of Motor Vehicles recommends a number of practical adjustments, such as having a plain background, using consistent and ample lighting, and making sure the phone isn’t in low power mode.
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What Can You Do With a Digital Driver’s License?
For now, the practical uses for a digital driver’s license in Apple Wallet are a bit limited. Apple bills the feature as a quick and easy way to verify your age or identity though an app or at TSA checkpoints. However, the actual usability will vary by state. In California, for instance, you can only use it at select airports, like LAX and SFO. The DMV also warns that you still need to carry your physical card. For a complete list of airports that take digital IDs, the TSA has an interactive map.
Are Digital Driver’s Licenses Safe?
A digital driver’s license is convenient, but is it safe? As one Redditor asked about Connecticut’s digital ID effort: “Why would you want to give your unlocked phone to a cop?”
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Everyone’s comfort level is different, but as the video above demonstrates, you scan or tap your own phone at a TSA checkpoint, so you shouldn’t have to hand over your phone. States that support Apple Wallet IDs also say you need to have your physical ID on you, just in case, so you can present that instead if you’re concerned about mobile security.
Otherwise, these IDs only work at businesses and organizations with supported mobile ID readers, or on sites and apps that require identity or age verification.
According to California’s DMV website and Apple’s documentation, digital ID usage is not tracked and no data leaves your device without your consent. That means neither Apple nor your state can see when or where you share your information. And since your information is locked behind Face ID or Touch ID, it’s less likely someone else can use your ID.
About Our Expert
Experience
I’ve contributed to PCMag since 2019, covering Apple, electric vehicles, and lots of other consumer electronics. If a gadget plugs into a wall or uses a battery, there’s a good chance I’ve tested it and have some thoughts about its place in our daily lives. I write featured articles, how-to guides, and daily news.
I got my first taste of writing about technology for Fast Company in 2013, mostly how it intersected with the music industry. Since then I’ve written for dozens of publications and explored all other facets of service journalism, from reviews to buying guides. At one point, I took a break from journalism for a few years to work at a technology startup and then an industry Goliath, both valuable experiences in understanding how the business of tech works from top to bottom.
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