OK, for people who don't know how this works:
- Just like Apple Pay, double-click the side button
- Select your license
- Hold it up to the reader (store, bar, TSA, cop, etc)
- See what info will be transmitted
- Approve transfer or not
Phone is never unlocked or leaves your hand. Never give or unlock your phone to anyone.
Having said this, unless there are a lot of cops with iPhones or other devices that can read the iPhone's transmission, you'll still be better off carrying your physical ID with you. But having this in case you forget your wallet at home will be nice as well.
(Edited to add this: I'm actually not sure how driving in a state that doesn't handle these electronic IDs works. So, if you travel outside of Illinois and don't have your physical license with you and the cop that stops you doesn't have a reader, what happens? I know they'll verify you in the long run but I wonder if there's a possibility they'll try to slap a "driving without physical license" citation on you. I don't know how far home rule extends here)
Also note the data that gets transferred depends on who is asking; bars/stores selling alcohol for example only get confirmation that you're legal age, that's it. So in these cases you're actually cutting down on your information getting out in the wild. No address, DOB, etc.
Outside of places that
need to see your ID, there a lots of places that
want to see your ID, for example doctor's offices. Here I decline letting them scan it and store it, which many times they want to do. They'll put up a minor fuss, but I've never been turned down after I've explained I've had my ID and personal information stolen.
Now, if Apple could make a provider-side app for that, I'd be happy to provide that level of verification.