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These 9 U.S. States Will Let You Add Your Driver's License to Your iPhone

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Apr 12, 2001
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Earlier this year, Apple launched a feature allowing residents of participating U.S. states to 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.

apple-wallet-drivers-license-feature.jpg

As we wait for IDs in the Wallet app to expand to additional U.S. states, here is everything you need to know about how the feature works.

Which U.S. states support the feature so far?
Which U.S. states are committed to supporting the feature?

In March, Apple said the additional nine states listed below would "soon" allow residents to add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app, but it's unclear exactly when each state plans to roll out support for the feature.
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Mississippi
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Utah
Apple said the feature will also be supported in Puerto Rico.

Last year, Apple executive Jennifer Bailey said the company was "already in discussions with many more states" and working to offer the feature nationwide in the future. Apple has yet to announce any plans to expand the feature to other countries.

Note that some states like Florida and Louisiana offer iPhone driver's licenses through their own state-operated apps, separate from this Wallet app feature.

Where can IDs in the Wallet app be used?

Apple-Wallet-ID-TSA.jpg

Driver's licenses and state ID cards stored in the Wallet app can currently be used at select TSA checkpoints within three U.S. airports:
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Apple says travelers should refer to TSA checkpoint signage to confirm availability of the feature.

Starting with iOS 16, you are able to present ID cards stored in the Wallet app in supported iPhone apps that require identity or age verification. Apple showed Uber Eats and Turo as two examples of apps that could offer this functionality.

Apple's website previously said IDs in the Wallet app would also be available for use at select retailers and venues in the future.

The feature does not replace a physical ID in all situations yet. For example, Apple makes no mention of IDs in the Wallet app being accepted by law enforcement or the government, so carrying a physical ID is still a necessity for now.

Which iPhone and Apple Watch models are supported?

The feature requires an iPhone 8 or newer running iOS 15.4 or later. If used on the Apple Watch, the feature requires a Series 4 model or newer running watchOS 8.4 or later.

For security purposes, Face ID or Touch ID must be enabled on the iPhone, and the device's region must be set to the United States. An Apple ID account with two-factor authentication turned on is also required.

How do I add my driver's license or ID to the Wallet app?

iPhone-Wallet-ID-Setup.jpg

In participating states, you can simply tap the "+" button in the top-right corner of the Wallet app and follow the on-screen instructions to add your driver's license or state ID to the iPhone and a paired Apple Watch. The process involves scanning the front and back of your driver's license or ID card, confirming your identity by taking a photo of your face, and completing a series of facial and head movements.

You can add only one license or ID to one iPhone and one paired Apple Watch at a time.

How do I use an ID stored in the Wallet app?

To present an ID stored in the Wallet app at participating TSA checkpoints, simply tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the identity reader. A prompt on the device will display the specific information being requested by the TSA, such as your name and date of birth, and this information is only released after you authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. A checkmark appears on the screen when you successfully present your license or ID.

You do not need to unlock, show, or hand over your device to a TSA officer to present your ID in the Wallet app, according to Apple.

Is the feature secure?

Apple says identity data is encrypted and that neither Apple nor the state issuing authority can see when and where you use your license or ID in the Wallet app. And if your device is locked when you present your ID, it stays locked afterwards.

Apple has a detailed privacy and security overview of the feature on its website with more details.

Last Updated: November 2022

This article was last updated in November 2022 to reflect the addition of Colorado as a state that has rolled out IDs in the Wallet app.

Article Link: These 9 U.S. States Will Let You Add Your Driver's License to Your iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/10/07/iphone-wallet-ids-which-states/
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LoveTo

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Was very excited about this at first but then read a hypothetical realistic scenario someone described.
The cops could get all friendly and say “My handheld scanner doesn’t seem to be working. Would you mind handing over your phone? I’ll just quickly scan on my in-car scanner. Can you please also unlock it so I don’t lose the app? Otherwise I need to file some report for missing documents and we’d need to get a hearing etc. Instead, if you just give me the phone, we’d be done in 5 mins.”

Of course everyone thinks they are not gullible but cops do this for a living. They can word it much better to make it sound convincing.
 
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antiprotest

antiprotest

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Apr 19, 2010
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MacRumors said:
and this information is only released after you authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.

You do not need to unlock, show, or hand over your device
Click to expand...
So the device remains locked even after authenticating with FaceID?

That is, does this intend to say,

"You do not need to unlock, OR show, OR hand over your device" (which is good)

or does it intend to say,

"You do not need to unlock+show" (that is the phone is still going to be unlocked, only that you are presenting it to a machine rather than a person)?

My guess is the latter. The phone is still unlocked when authenticated. This is not safe enough.

Because the concern is that, for example, if the police pulls you over and asks for ID, if you use your phone as an ID, the police might take your entire phone and scan it on his device or even goes back to his car to punch in the info.

It is important to have a way to open the ID while keeping the rest of the phone locked.
 
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ams1117

ams1117

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May 12, 2021
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two practical questions:
1. at the TSA I need to show my boarding pass and ID, does this mean I need to show them my phone once (for the boarding pass), take it back and switch to the other screen (ID) and then show it to TSA again? Feels strange.
2. when this gets decent support (say about half the states start issuing this), can I drive to a state that does not issue these digital DLs without a physical drivers license?
 
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HappyDude20

HappyDude20

macrumors 68040
Jul 13, 2008
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Los Angeles, Ca
antiprotest said:
So the device remains locked even after authenticating with FaceID?

That is, does this intend to say,

"You do not need to unlock, OR show, OR hand over your device" (which is good)

or does it intend to say,

"You do not need to unlock+show" (that is the phone is still going to be unlocked, only that you are presenting it to a machine rather than a person)?

My guess is the latter. The phone is still unlocked when authenticated. This is not safe enough.

Because the concern is that, for example, if the police pulls you over and asks for ID, if you use your phone as an ID, the police might take your entire phone and scan it on his device or even goes back to his car to punch in the info.

It is important to have a way to open the ID while keeping the rest of the phone locked.
Click to expand...
I believe this ID wallet feature is only for airports specifically TSA. not a valid identification method for police or being pulled over.
 
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gaximus

gaximus

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Oct 11, 2011
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neoelectronaut said:
Louisiana has their own dedicated Digital Wallet app for drivers licenses, hunting licenses, and COVID-19 vaccinations.

I was hoping they'd allow me to export this to Apple's wallet app at some point, but no such luck so far.
Click to expand...
Colorado has the same thing, but I have a “guided access” setup so if I have to hand my phone to a police officer, they can flip through that app, without access to my phone.
 
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antiprotest

antiprotest

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Apr 19, 2010
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HappyDude20 said:
I believe this ID wallet feature is only for airports specifically TSA. not a valid identification method for police or being pulled over.
Click to expand...
I know. But I am thinking eventually it will attempt to replace physical ID or be an alternative to it and I would like it to be able to keep the phone locked. Maybe they will have a way by then.
 
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subjonas

macrumors 603
Feb 10, 2014
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Loving the built in security and privacy described. Apple seems like they thought this through.
But it’s gonna be a long while before this is ubiquitous enough to leave the physical license at home, I suspect.
 
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redheeler

redheeler

macrumors G3
Oct 17, 2014
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Colorado, USA
LoveTo said:
Was very excited about this at first but then read a hypothetical realistic scenario someone described.
The cops could get all friendly and say “My handheld scanner doesn’t seem to be working. Would you mind handing over your phone? I’ll just quickly scan on my in-car scanner. Can you please also unlock it so I don’t lose the app?”

Of course everyone thinks they are not gullible but cops do this for a living. They can word it much better to make it sound convincing.
Click to expand...
Yeah, this is not a physical id replacement in every situation. Especially if traveling from one state that does support it to another that doesn't (particularly if that state doesn't already have its own app), good luck getting them to accept it...

It's a plan B if you forget your wallet because it's better than nothing.
 
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bommai

bommai

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May 23, 2003
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Melbourne, FL
Florida has their own app but it is pretty slow and has to down the data from online every time I login. What if I don’t have a good cell signal. It is made by Thales.
 
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Joe Rossignol

Joe Rossignol

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May 12, 2012
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Canada
Stromos said:
Must be a boring Friday.
Click to expand...
You are right, to be honest. It's a slow Friday after a slow news week with many fringe/boring news topics, and so this is a filler story for a more general audience. I wish it didn't come at the expense of upsetting our most dedicated readers who already know every little detail, but there are always tradeoffs involved with publishing content. One thing I have tried to learn over the years is that it is impossible to please everyone. I hope you know that we certainly try our best to balance real-but-boring news with filler-but-popular stories.
 
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