You might not know this, but you can use Apple Wallet to store your driver's license right on your iPhone. It speeds up airport security, adds an extra layer of protection with Face ID or Touch ID, and lets you verify your age or identity quickly without handing over your physical card.

Apple first announced support for mobile driver's licenses and state identification cards in Apple Wallet in 2021, with Arizona leading the way as the first state to support the feature in 2022. Since then, Apple has officially stated that it is working with several other states and territories to bring mobile IDs to residents, including Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

While the rollout has been slow (seven of the announced partner states have yet to materialize anything), nine states and one US territory currently support Apple Wallet IDs, and at least 21 other states, districts, and territories are exploring or working toward Apple Wallet implementation.

Below is the complete list of supported states and territories. You may also see the terms digital, virtual, or electronic used to describe mobile driver’s licenses and state identification cards; we use the terms interchangeably in this guide.

Mobile driver's licenses (mDLs) and mobile IDs (mIDs) offer a variety of benefits, though their functionality varies by state. They provide greater convenience, enhanced security, and a more seamless way to verify identity. Here are some key advantages:

As adoption grows, digital IDs could become even more widely accepted, reducing the need for physical wallets and offering a more secure, convenient way to verify identity.

Since Arizona's enrollment, only eight other states have allowed you to add mobile driver's licenses or state identification cards to Apple Wallet. Those are California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, and Ohio. One US territory — Puerto Rico — also supports Apple Wallet IDs.

Puerto Rico driver's licenses and state IDs were the most recent addition to Apple Wallet. Several other states have announced plans to support mDLs and mIDs in Apple Wallet in the near future. For example, Montana, Virginia, and West Virginia have all committed to bringing mDLs to Apple Wallet, as confirmed by Apple or state officials. However, no specific timeline was provided for some of them.

Additionally, in a press release from Sept. 19, 2024, Apple announced that Japan had signed on to bring its My Number Card to Apple Wallet, marking the first international ID to support Apple Wallet. It may finally show up in iOS 18.4, currently in beta.

As of August 2024, at least 18 other states, districts, and territories have shown interest in using Apple Wallet as their primary or secondary means of issuing and storing virtual driver's licenses and IDs on mobile devices.

Others have shown no interest in using Apple Wallet for mDLs but still support digital identification options, some of which already have them via standalone apps or other wallet providers. Some states, districts, and territories have shown no interest in mDL programs that we are aware of.

• [OR] — No known mDL interest. Unknown.

• [PA] — Introduced in May 2023, HB 1247 calls for the BMV to issue mDLs and allow residents to show virtual IDs on mobile devices. While it hasn't been passed yet, discussions continued at the last House Transportation Committee meeting in March 2024. Unsurprisingly, the company behind the Mobile ID platform that other states use suggested that PA build its own app before considering Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. No decisions have been made on that front. Being considered.

• [RI] — In December 2023, the DMV's assistant administrator said the mDLs were on its radar but also implied it was waiting for more services to accept mDLs for identification. Unknown.

• [SC] — According to the DMV, a 2022 mDL study was underway in the state. In late 2022, the DMV further said it was exploring mDL service providers, including Apple Wallet. Since then, there haven't been any clear updates on the study's progress. Being considered.

• [SD] — No known mDL interest. Unknown.

• [TN] — In early 2024, SB 2661 and HB 2792 sought to require the Department of Safety to create and implement "a secure digital license system for the issuance of digital driver licenses and photo identification licenses upon request." While it appears to have stalled, it may be because the Department of Safety was already looking into creating mDLs. As of March 2024, they are finalizing the program, with details coming soon. Being considered.

• [TX] — In May 2023, HB 71 sought to establish a program to issue digital identification no later than Feb. 1, 2025. The bill is currently assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee. Unknown.

• [UT] — Supports mDLs via the GET Mobile ID app. Listed as an upcoming participating state since 2021.

• [VT] — In June 2023, S.99 was signed into law by the governor, allowing residents to store driver's licenses, learner's permits, and state ID cards on mobile phones. No updates are available. Unknown.

• [WA] — In 2023, HB 5105 was introduced to authorize digital driver's licenses on mobile phones, but it's still assigned to the Senate. However, a workgroup was funded in 2023 to seek information from law enforcement, privacy groups, and other states. The report is due by Dec. 1, 2024. Sen. Mark Mullet hopes to pass an mDL bill sometime in 2025. Unknown.

• [WI] — No known mDL interest. Unknown.

• [WY] — In March 2020, HB 0005 was signed into law by the governor, paving the way for mDLs. However, the state needs to modernize its driver services system technology, so mDLs may come sometime in 2025 or 2026. Being considered.

• [D.C.] — In February 2022, D.C. Law 24-72 became effective, giving the DMV the authority to issue mDLs and residents the option of using mDLs instead of physical IDs. The last known update states that the DMV is still developing the feature. Being considered.

• [AS] — No known mDL interest. Unknown.

• [GU] — No known mDL interest. Unknown.

• [MP] — No known mDL interest. Unknown.

• [VI] — No known mDL interest. Unknown.

Adding your mobile driver's license to Apple Wallet

The process for adding your mobile driver's license or state ID to Apple Wallet is relatively easy. It requires an iPhone 8 or newer with iOS 16.5 or later. If you have an Apple Watch, you'll need Series 4 or newer with WatchOS 9.5 or later. However, if you live in California, you'll need an iPhone XS or newer with iOS 17.5 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer with at least watchOS 10.

First, either go to Settings » Wallet & Apple Pay » Add Card or tap the plus (+) button at the top of the Wallet app on your iPhone.

Select "Driver's License or State ID" from the list of options, then tap on your state's name. If your state is not listed, it's not yet compatible with Apple Wallet.

After you select your state, it will let you know that:

Your identity information and additional verification information you submit when adding an ID will be used by Apple and your state issuing authority to prevent fraud. See how your data is managed...

Tap the "Continue" button to scan your driver's license or state ID.

However, when a state is new to Apple Wallet, you may see the following instead. If so, tap "Notify Me," and you'll receive a notification when you can add yours.

Thank you for your interest in adding your driver's license to Wallet. Due to high volume, the service is currently busy. Do you want to be notified when it becomes available?

Scan the front of your card using the movement indicators provided to help you position it correctly in the frame, then hit "Continue" or "Scan Again." Repeat this process for the back of your ID card. If Wallet believes the scan to be incorrect, you'll see a dialog letting you know the ID was not captured with options to "Rescan" or "Continue Anyway."

Once you hit "Continue" after scanning the card's rear, Wallet will submit the data to an identity verification service used by your state's bureau of motor vehicles (BMV), department of driver services (DDS), department of motor vehicles (DMV), motor vehicle administration (MVA), or motor vehicle division (MVD) — or another government agency that administers motor vehicle registration and driver licensing — to confirm your identity. Apple will not see this information.

If you change your mind, you can hit "Cancel" at any time during the scanning process to back out of adding your ID to Apple Wallet.

Cover photo and screenshots by Gadget Hacks.