Apple Announces First U.S. States That Will Let You Add Your Driver's License to Your iPhone

[TheVowelO]

I would assume as far as showing your ID/DL to a police officer that they themselves have some sort of tech that can access your ID/DL by scanning and you yourself approve what they can/cannot see without handing them your device. Or something like that. Cuz I would never hand my device over to a cop willingly.

 

[ZipZilla]

come on SC, I hate carrying a wallet

 

[mattopotamus]

As an Atlanta resident, I am stunned GA is first. Does this mean I can drop my ID all together for alcohol too?

 

[j_in_tx]

Yup - if you're comfortable handing your unlocked phone to a cop who then takes it out of your control, then you do you.

Me, I'll stay with physical ID.

I'd rather give a physical ID too and not my phone. But, I do still want this feature for those times I just need to show it but not pass over my phone to any random person. Most use cases in my personal experience is exactly this.

 

[mattopotamus]

Next step is having proof of insurance & registration in there too...

Don't most states accept this? I haven't carried a physical insurance card for years.

 

[rjohnstone]

In the Arizona Mobile ID app, click share ID

Yeah... the app generates a QR code if the entity has the software/hardware to read it, but you can also generate the PDF417 barcode (Generate Privacy code) if the entity can't read the QR code.
It's the same PDF417 barcode that is on the back of you DL. For example pharmacies scan the barcode for controlled substance prescriptions.
I haven't found a business that can read the QR code yet.
So far only police and TSA have the QR readers.

 

[iHorseHead]

This is going to be an awesome feature - especially when going through airport security once TSA starts accepting digital ID’s

I hope my state, Massachusetts adds this soon!

Nope, it kind of sucks. You can no longer use "I forgot my driver's license"

 

[dontwalkhand]

Yeah... the app generates a QR code if the entity has the software/hardware to read it, but you can also generate the PDF417 barcode (Generate Privacy code) if the entity can't read the QR code.
It's the same PDF417 barcode that is on the back of you DL. For example pharmacies scan the barcode for controlled substance prescriptions.
I haven't found a business that can read the QR code yet.
So far only police and TSA have the QR readers.

Yeah, I end up having to use the PDF-417 barcode at CVS the other day to get my prescriptions. At least they accept the mobile ID.

I even used it at the Sol Flower dispensary, and it scanned fine. But unfortunately they are cash only, so the conveniences of Apple Pay is lost there. Actually maybe not, because most ATMs now take Apple Pay as well. I would rather carry nothing but a money clip and a phone.

 

[KittyKatta]

Apple today announced the first U.S. states that will be rolling out the ability for residents to ADD their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Old Way: Drivers License in Wallet
New Way: Drivers License in Wallet AND Phone

Didn’t we already do the whole “what if…” drama queen stuff with credit cards? It’s not a replacement, it’s an extremely convenient and (OPTIONAL) add on. Just keep your physical license in the glove box with the auto insurance.

 

[eoblaed]

Quite looking forward to this.

Yup - if you're comfortable handing your unlocked phone to a cop who then takes it out of your control, then you do you.

Me, I'll stay with physical ID.

Nothing says you can't do both. For all intents and purposes, physical IDs will be a thing 'forever' (can't require people to have a smart phone to drive, for example). But for many cases, knowing you've got that digital 'backup' on your phone can be quite handy.

Also, as this becomes more common place, I can easily envision a system where the cop's tablet can receive your ID information by you tapping your phone/watch/etc to their device, so they don't need you to hand them anything at all.

A win all the way around.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Old Way: Drivers License in Wallet
New Way: Drivers License in Wallet AND Phone

Didn’t we already do the whole “what if…” drama queen stuff with credit cards? It’s not a replacement, it’s an extremely convenient and (OPTIONAL) add on. For me, I dont often get arrested so I dont see the big deal. I could just keep my physical drivers license in my purse or in my glovebox with my auto insurance.

Exactly, this is going to be perfect for the other times you need to pull your ID out such as returning an item at Walmart without a receipt, depositing a check, boarding a plane, going into a concert, or buying alcohol. People forget that you use your ID a lot more in these situations than you would be getting pulled over.

 

[focusflwr]

AZ, surprising, they're not one for innovation. looking forward to this everywhere. would be nice with passports too, but well see how it plays out

hopefully it won't be limited to just TSA and can go completely digital. the magnetic wallet is nice but limiting

AZ has had digital license for a while now, not that I’ve had any chance to use it.

 

[Stromos]

There's zero chance I would ever use this as I ain't giving the cops access to my phone. No way. I also don't want my drivers license all over the internet upon Apple security breach. No thanks.

I'd rather give a physical ID too and not my phone. But, I do still want this feature for those times I just need to show it but not pass over my phone to any random person. Most use cases in my personal experience is exactly this.

Just say you own an iPhone and have no idea how it works nor do you read articles explaining these things a million times over.

This is for Apple Wallet. Apple Wallet lives in the secure enclave on your device. It can't leave the secure enclave. It can't leave your device.

Now let me further break my Ctrl + C & V

Presenting a driver’s license or state ID to TSA: Once added to Wallet, customers can present their driver’s license or state ID to the TSA by simply tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch at the identity reader. Upon tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch, customers will see a prompt on their device displaying the specific information being requested by the TSA. Only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the requested identity information released from their device, which ensures that just the required information is shared and only the person who added the driver’s license or state ID to the device can present it. Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to present their ID.

Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to present their ID.

‼️Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to present their ID.‼️

 

[KittyKatta]

Also, as this becomes more common place, I can easily envision a system where the cop's tablet can receive your ID information by you tapping your phone/watch/etc to their device, so they don't need you to hand them anything at all.

The PolicePad could read your license and will also let you pay off the ticket with Apple Pay. (That’s intended as a joke but would likely be a real future scenario)

 

[deeddawg]

As an Atlanta resident, I am stunned GA is first. Does this mean I can drop my ID all together for alcohol too?

Do ya feeling like going sober for a few years 'til all the servers and bartenders are equipped to read the electronic DL? 😁

 

[WitchDoktor]

Quite looking forward to this.



Nothing says you can't do both. For all intents and purposes, physical IDs will be a thing 'forever' (can't require people to have a smart phone to drive, for example). But for many cases, knowing you've got that digital 'backup' on your phone can be quite handy.

Also, as this becomes more common place, I can easily envision a system where the cop's tablet can receive your ID information by you tapping your phone/watch/etc to their device, so they don't need you to hand them anything at all.

A win all the way around.

As I said, you do you! I personally won't consider doing this until I see how this is executed in my state and am satisfied that there is security and accountability in the system. But that's me.

 

[Rigby]

Now we can show our phone when we go to vote! And the bank, and the pharmacy, and when we return something and don't have a receipt! So many places where you have to show an ID, will be so convenient.

This seems like a terrible idea. Instead of a person just looking at your ID, they will now scan it and collect your name, address, DOB and license number electronically (and probably use it to profile you or sell it to data brokers). And after the next breach, your data will be for sale on the Internet for ID thieves. Sure, you can refuse to authorize the scan when they ask for too much information, but then what if you no longer have a physical ID?

A few years ago Target insisted on scanning your ID via magstripe whenever you purchased wine or beer. Later it turned out they added the information to their "guest" profiles ...

 

[anson42]

Unbelievable that California isn't on the list! C'mon, CA!

I wonder what systems the state DMVs deploy. The fact that some states have this may mean Apple worked with the vendor(s) to ensure the capability is present but due to the variety of systems in use getting this feature wide spread simply isn't possible for launch. Because photo verification is required, I imagine there are a few moving parts to make this happen.

In the meantime, I always carry a photo of my driver license on my phone as a backup of the real thing but having an official digital license would be great.

 

[CrzyP]

AZ, surprising, they're not one for innovation. looking forward to this everywhere. would be nice with passports too, but well see how it plays out

hopefully it won't be limited to just TSA and can go completely digital. the magnetic wallet is nice but limiting

AZ has had a mobile ID since March. Just need to download the AZ Mobile ID. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/arizona-mobile-id/id1534795245

 

[Arsenikdote]

Keep those batteries charged. Make sure you have spare cables in your car.

Isn't that just a normal day owning a smartphone? Worrying about that seems like a blast from the pre 2010 past

 

[Arsenikdote]

Hopefully this will come to Canada one day

That being said, how long will it take before cops, TSA, etc are aware of this and you don't
have to teach them (or argue with them over it)?

I wouldn't think that scenario would happen. The use of contactless readers will have to be issued and trained before a state/province would be able to "accept" it, so I can't imagine it would catch anyone by surprise. But who knows...

 

[Arsenikdote]

I wonder what systems the state DMVs deploy. The fact that some states have this may mean Apple worked with the vendor(s) to ensure the capability is present but due to the variety of systems in use getting this feature wide spread simply isn't possible for launch. Because photo verification is required, I imagine there are a few moving parts to make this happen.

In the meantime, I always carry a photo of my driver license on my phone as a backup of the real thing but having an official digital license would be great.

I would imagine this doesn't change the process for getting your actual physical drivers license. It would make the most sense this is an additional system that allows a digital version to be used. Much like credit cards. You apply and receive a physical card that has the option of being digitally represented in your wallet. Since the tech for credit cards has been out for a while, we now are at a stage where you could get a digital only credit card for your digital wallet and request a physical card if desired. Likely another decade to be at that stage with ID's, so probably not many DMV's will need to change their systems for a while. That is just my guess though...

 

[MacCurry]

Hopefully this becomes a way of also verifying voter ID at the polls. It should speed things up.

 

[mattopotamus]

AZ has had digital license for a while now, not that I’ve had any chance to use it.

Does it not work at bars or restaurants? If not, that really defeats the point since you still have to carry your ID.

 

[MDalprato]

In Italy wi will never ever be part of this.
It would be awesome to be able to use my iPhone as a wallet without having to actually carry a wallet.