Apple Announces iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Come to These Additional U.S. States

Thursday September 19, 2024 10:45 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The list of states where the feature is available currently includes Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, and most recently California, and Apple today announced that Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia are now committed to supporting the feature in the future.

apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro
Apple also announced that users will soon be able to present their Wallet app ID in person for select services, including CLEAR member enrollment at airports. The feature will also be supported in the CLEAR, MyChart, and Uber Eats apps soon.

In 2022, Apple said Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah were also committed to offering driver's licenses in the Wallet app, but none of those states have rolled out the feature yet, and it is unclear if any still plan to. The feature has yet to expand beyond the U.S., but it will work with Japan's My Number Card eventually.

Participating Airports

Apple Wallet app IDs can be used at select TSA checkpoints within select U.S. airports:

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)

Apple says travelers should refer to TSA checkpoint signage to confirm availability of the feature, and the TSA's website offers more details.

Tag: Apple Wallet

Top Rated Comments

Orange Bat

27 months ago

This is one of those things that I’m not sure I’d ever use. There will never be a time in my life where I won’t carry a driver’s license with me, and I’m not a big fan of handing over my phone to government officials. Some things just sound better than they really are.

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

yukari

27 months ago

Good god! People are just not reading all the details regarding how to use these digital driver's license.

One more time: you do NOT hand over the phone. Like other apple wallet entries, you tap your license to a reader the police is suppose to have.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

jaytv111

27 months ago

Ok, stupid question. What about police and traffic stops? You have your license on your iPhone and hand it over to the cops. Wouldn’t they have full access to your phone, pictures, etc?

I ask because I just tested with my iPhone. I double pressed the power button to bring up my wallet. It immediately performed a Face ID scan. I would then presumably scroll to my drivers license (NC doesn’t have it yet) and then hand it to the officer. They then take my phone and walk back to their vehicle.

However, once that first ID scan is performed, I can swipe from the bottom without another scan and have full access to my phone. That would seemingly be problematic.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.

You are wrong. This always has to be explained over and over again, so here we go.

The Apple Wallet ID system is not taken by a single police department in the country (or the world). It is taken by TSA in a few select airports. In those airports, you scan your phone at an Apple Pay-esque terminal. No TSA officer takes your phone at all, it never leaves your hand.

Alternatively, there are states that made mobile ID acceptable to police, Louisiana for instance. In that state, they had to change the law to make it acceptable to have the officer scan a barcode on the app. Even in those instances you do not hand your phone over, they scan it on their mobile device.

Now since it gets asked every time, what if the officer says he needs your phone cuz his reader isn't working? Well I'm not sure but if his reader isn't working then I think they just do a warrant check on the radio with your name. They still don't need your phone. I think it's on them to make sure the reader is working. But it shouldn't be necessary to hand anything over, the law was changed specifically to enable mere scanning of a barcode in the mobile app to be allowed. But if you're suspicious or whatever, then carry your plastic ID, it's still a thing.

What if the cop grabs my phone from my hand? Then he broke the law, what do you want me to do about it?

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IIGS User

27 months ago

1: I’m not handing my phone to the cops.

2: You don’t HAVE to hand your phone to the cops, participation is optional. If you don’t want to hand your phone to the cops, carry your license.

3: Close thread.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

bradley8795

27 months ago

I don’t understand why everyone talks about handing your phone to a government official, or police officer. When you check out with your Amex at Target do you have to give your phone to the cashier so they can run to the back and process the charges? No.

When it’s eventually rolled out completely and able to be used with police for traffic stops it’s going to be a NFC scan or some other technology just like your credit cards in the Wallet.

On another note. Why did California feel the need to be the only state to brand the ID with the CA DMV logo and that crappy mDL stuff. Every other one is nice and clean. Then we have California that has to mess with everything 🤦‍♂️

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)