Apple has announced plans to turn your iPhone into your driver's license in 2021. Plane tickets, movie passes and credit cards were already digital. Now it's time to digitize your government-issued ID.
So far, very few US states actually allow you to add your driver's license or state ID to Apple Wallet. However, there are other states without Wallet support where your iPhone can still become your driver's license.
Table of Contents
- Apple Wallet IDs
- Wallet IDs at airports
- Digital ID apps
- When will my state get a digital driver's license?
ids”>Apple Wallet IDs
What's the benefit of having your driver's license or state ID in Apple Wallet? For now, it's very similar to using Apple Pay to pay in store.
Instead of showing a physical driver's license or state ID at TSA checkpoints at airports, just tap your iPhone or Apple Watch NFC reader. can confirm your identity. Boarding passes have long gone digital, and driver's licenses are not far behind.
However, there does not appear to be a race to complete or even begin the transition to digital IDs. Currently, three states and four airports support IDs in Wallet.
According to Apple, you can add your ID to Wallet on iPhone in the following states:
- Arizona li>
- Colorado
- Maryland
- Georgia
In 2021, Apple said Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah are also committed to supporting this feature. For now, it's easy to find news coverage of states that are committing to supporting digital IDs in 2021 and 2022 but have no resolution in 2023.
Airports with Wallet ID
Once your ID is added to Wallet, you can wave your hand According to Apple, your iPhone is used to verify your identity at select TSA checkpoints at the following airports:
- Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
Although only four states currently support IDs in Wallet, there are many more states and territories that are at different levels of study support. In addition to TSA support, IDs in Wallet can be accepted by banking institutions, businesses, and other industries.
Digital ID apps
While national support for IDs in Wallet may take years, more states are officially offer digital IDs on iPhone without Wallet support. States that have Mobile ID apps installed on iPhone include:
- Arizona
- California
- Delaware
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- Utah
These states have mobile apps that allow you to use your digital ID with contactless terminals. The setup process may require registering your phone number, scanning the front and back of your physical ID, and verifying with a selfie. Users can then “certify” their digital ID for use for TSA, age verification, and more.
Digital IDs are not just more convenient. If supported, a user can verify their age for age-restricted purchases such as alcohol without revealing personal information such as date of birth or home address.
Pilot digital identification airports
While only four airports accept ID cards in Wallet, there are many more field evaluation pilot airports that accept digital ID apps. TSA lists these locations, although TSA Pre-Check is required:
- Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
- Gulfport International Airport Biloxi (GPT)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport ( JAN)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) li>
- LaGuardia Airport ( LGA)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) – beginning March 06
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) – beginning August 3
- San Jose Norman Mineta International Airport (SJC)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
When will my state get digital driver's licenses?
Unless you live in one of the few states that support digital IDs, you're probably asking yourself when your state will join the list. Legislators in each state and territory must propose and pass their own laws to allow digital driving licences. This process is likely the biggest bottleneck.
When it becomes legal, government officials must agree on how best to implement digital IDs. Companies like IDEMIA make this process easier, but each state handles issues like support and security separately.
Best Comment by Shafnitz
When I last flew out of PHX, I really wanted to use my iPhone to go through security. I have TSA PreCheck and when I got there to the agent desk with phone in hand, I asked her how to use my digital ID. She said, “I need your physical ID.” I replied, “I thought we could use Apple Wallet at this airport?” And she said, “Sometimes. But not today.” 🤷♂️
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Several states have already legalized digital driver's licenses and state ID cards, but there is no decision yet. Laws were passed as recently as 2021 , 2022 and 2023.
Some states are testing small pilot programs before officially launching support.Most states that offer digital ID support do not charge an access fee, but some states charge a one-time fee of $10 or an annual fee of $2.
Having your driver's license in Apple Wallet on your iPhone without downloading anything from the App Store is an ideal scenario.If you're wondering when the event will happen in your state leap, it's helpful to familiarize yourself with your state's digital ID laws, as well as recent news about implementation progress. This data will give you the best information to manage your expectations.
Missing any data? Have you already added your ID to Wallet or already used your digital ID in the real world? Let us know in the comments.
