iPhone Driver's Licenses May Soon Expand to New State

[ipedro]

Same question. I would not hand over my unlocked phone to anyone including, or especially, the police.

Do you hand your phone to a cashier to pay with Apple Pay? 🤔

 

[rdinterman]

Same with Florida, although I heard they might be going with their own app.

The Florida Governor has stated Florida will not be doing a digital drivers license. Not meant to be a political post, just stating the issue.

 

[DrJR]

so simple yet so difficult

 

[lindros2]

View attachment 2647522
The problem is most police departments don’t accept it because they need the reader. Though the hologram effect as you tilt your phone is very neat. You can see I almost never use it.

wow it last worked in 2024.

Pretty much in line with my experience.
(source: I fly 150+ times a year across 30+ airports in the US)

 

[lindros2]

It works exactly the same way as Apple Pay.

Kind of - in my experience (5 out of 200 times attempted), you have to double click side > tap it (unlocked), then give permission to share your credentials (in my case, "Transportation Security Administration" - then it changed names [as still visible in history] to "Identity Verification" in March, 2026).

It's a more awkward version of Apple Pay, which is double-click side button > verify via FaceID or passcode > tap.

 

[epox999]

Can't think of a single use case for this?

 

[iStorm]

It should!

I use the Starbucks card (🍎wallet version) every day, granting me the ability to display/scan the barcode DIRECTLY from the lock screen without EVER even unlocking my phone! I could literally give my iPhone to a friend, they could bring it to Starbucks, scan and pay all without me giving them my passcode - because access is enabled simply by tapping the Starbucks barcode at the bottom of the lock screen (which auto displays within a geofence of all preselected/favorited stores within the Starbucks app) which then sync over to the Wallet app

It seems that having the ability to (temporarily) employ a similar concept with your mobile driver’s license would be an ideal way to implement this (for the exact use case of a traffic stop)

While waiting in your car (while pulled over) one could access their wallet app to potentially select an option of “enable traffic stop access” or whatever to be able to safely hand over your phone without compromising your data, if need be

What do you mean it should? It does! It works similar to Apple Pay.

1. Double-click the side button to open Apple Wallet.
2. Use Face ID (or passcode) to unlock the wallet. The rest of the phone stays locked.
3. Select your digital ID.
4. Tap the law enforcement or establishment's NFC reader to initiate the transfer of info.
5. Review the info that's going to be shared and approve.

If they don't have an NFC reader, then you show your physical card. The digital ID does not show all the same information that's on your physical card, so it cannot be used visually as if it were a physical one.

It's no different than how your Apple Pay cards don't show the card number, expiration date, and CVV. You cannot show the merchant your digital card so they can punch in your card number...it's not there. Exact same concept with digital IDs. If someone willing hands over their phone, then that's on them for failing to understand how this works.

 

[boswald]

The Florida Governor has stated Florida will not be doing a digital drivers license. Not meant to be a political post, just stating the issue.

That's sad to hear, but thank you for letting me know.

 

[scottct1]

Connecticut was the first state announced... yet we still don't have it.

 

[dmitri123]

Remember, still carry your physically license. Because this scenario WILL happen:

You're pulled over.

The cop says "Yeah, the reader, which is supposed to just read your license without me having to take your unlocked phone back to my car, is not working. Give me your unlocked phone to take back to my car, because I need to ID you."

It may even be true that the reader isn't working. Doesn't matter.

STILL CARRY YOUR LICENSE.

 

[ipedro]

Kind of - in my experience (5 out of 200 times attempted), you have to double click side > tap it (unlocked), then give permission to share your credentials (in my case, "Transportation Security Administration" - then it changed names [as still visible in history] to "Identity Verification" in March, 2026).

It's a more awkward version of Apple Pay, which is double-click side button > verify via FaceID or passcode > tap.

Which is even more secure than Apple Pay. The point being made is that you don't hand your phone to anyone, certainly not handing your phone to a cop just like you don't hand your phone to a cashier.

Every time one of these threads comes up, there are people who don't understand how this works. You don't even need to show your phone, it's not supposed to replace the physical version of your license or passport in the same way that a physical passport or license works. You don't show it like you show your driver's license. It's all digital and permission based.

There's a database on state records on state online systems. Tapping your phone requests permission to access those records for that ID, your phone itself isn't sending the license. What's even better is that only the relevant information is shown. In the case of a bar who has this system, you tap your phone and it asks are you of drinking age? Yes/No. Nothing else is passed on. For cops or at airports: What is your passport/license number? What they get: #xxxxxxx. The rest of the information is what they would get if they punched in the number into their system

 

[BornAgainMac]

I worry about losing my license. It would be nice if I lost my phone that I can just restore the contents including the digital license to my new phone.

 

[operand]

I’ve never used my Arizona ID. Oh well.

 

[lindros2]

Which is even more secure than Apple Pay. The point being made is that you don't hand your phone to anyone, certainly not handing your phone to a cop just like you don't hand your phone to a cashier.

Every time one of these threads comes up, there are people who don't understand how this works. You don't even need to show your phone, it's not supposed to replace the physical version of your license or passport in the same way that a physical passport or license works. You don't show it like you show your driver's license. It's all digital and permission based.

There's a database on state records on state online systems. Tapping your phone requests permission to access those records for that ID, your phone itself isn't sending the license. What's even better is that only the relevant information is shown. In the case of a bar who has this system, you tap your phone and it asks are you of drinking age? Yes/No. Nothing else is passed on. For cops or at airports: What is your passport/license number? What they get: #xxxxxxx. The rest of the information is what they would get if they punched in the number into their system

Yeah - all of this is true if it actually worked reliably.
(not Apple's fault - the TSA machinery is bunk)