Apple has announced plans to turn the iPhone into your driver’s license in 2021. Airline tickets, movie passes and credit cards were already digital. Now it was time to digitize government-issued ID cards.
So far, very few US states allow you to add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet. However, there are multiple states without Wallet support where your iPhone can still become your driver’s license.
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Apple Wallet IDs
What’s the benefit of making my driver’s license or state ID available in Apple Wallet? For now, it’s very similar to using Apple Pay to checkout at a store.
Instead of presenting your physical driver’s license or state ID at TSA checkpoints at airports, simply tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to an NFC reader to validate your identity. Boarding passes have long since gone digital and driver’s licenses are catching up.
However, there doesn’t appear to be a rush to complete or even start the transition to digital IDs. For now, three states and four airports support IDs in Wallet.
You can add your ID to Wallet on iPhone in these states, according to Apple:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Maryland
- Georgia
Apple said in 2021 that Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah also committed to supporting the feature. For now, it’s easy to find news coverage for states committing to support digital ID in 2021 and 2022 with no resolution in 2023.
Airports ID wallet
Once your ID has been added to Wallet, you can wave your iPhone to validate your identity at select TSA checkpoints at these airports, according to Apple:
- Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
While only four states so far support IDs in Wallet, there are many more additional states and territories that are at various levels of support exploration. In addition to TSA support, IDs in Wallet could be accepted in banking, corporate and more.
Digital identification app
While national support for IDs in Wallet may take years, multiple states are officially offering digital IDs on iPhones without Wallet support. Statuses with Mobile ID apps on iPhone include:
These states have mobile apps that allow you to use your digital ID with contactless terminals. The setup process may require you to register your phone number, scan the front and back of your physical ID, and verify it with a selfie. Users can then certify their digital ID to use for TSA, age verification, and more.
Digital IDs aren’t just more convenient. If supported, a user can verify their age for age-restricted purchases like alcohol without revealing personal information like date of birth or home address, for example.
Digital ID pilot airports
While only four airports accept IDs in Wallet, there are several more pilot field evaluation airports that accept digital ID apps. The TSA lists these locations, although TSA PreCheck 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 Biloxi International Airport (GPT)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) Effective 03/06
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) Effective 8/3
- Norman Y. Mineta San Jose 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?
If you don’t live in one of the few states that support digital IDs, you’re probably wondering when your state will make the list. Legislatures in every state and territory must propose and pass their own laws allowing digital driver’s licenses. This process is probably the biggest bottleneck.
Once legal, state officials must agree on the best way to implement digital IDs. Companies like IDEMIA are making this process easier, but each state addresses issues like support and security separately.
Several states have already legalized digital driver’s licenses and state IDs, but don’t have a solution in place. The laws were passed only in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Some states are testing small pilot programs before officially rolling out support. Most states that offer digital ID support do not charge for access, but some states charge a one-time fee of $10 or a $2 annual fee.
Having your driver’s license available in Apple Wallet on your iPhone without downloading something from the App Store is the ideal scenario. If you’re wondering when your state will make the leap, it helps to learn about digital ID laws in your state and recent news about progress toward implementation. This data will give you the best information to manage your expectations.
Is any data missing? Have you already added your ID to Wallet or used your digital ID in the real world? Let us know in the comments.
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