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In 2020, Apple announced that iPhone users could add their passports, driver’s licenses, and state IDs to their Apple Wallet. However, states have been pretty slow to adopt these digital documents as valid forms. Arizona first approved the feature, but it took until 2022 – two years after Apple released the new feature – for any state to approve it.

In fact, in 2024, only five states allow residents to use a digital driver’s license stored in their Apple Wallet:

  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Georgia
  • Maryland
  • Ohio

It’s truly a mixed bag, no? Ohio just adopted the feature as a valid form of ID in July 2024. I tried to add my license this afternoon. It looks like I’ll have to either install an update or wait for Ohio to get added to the selection in the Apple Wallet UX.

A screenshot of the Apple Wallet driver's license UX
The Apple Wallet UX has a list of states that allow you to add a driver’s license | Sarah Kennedy, MotorBiscuit

I’ll be the first to admit that I only recently started using Apple Pay. I can’t really say why it took me so long. Well, I’m a really busy mom of small children who works full time. When I have a second to breathe, I’m not really thinking about what the heck else I can attach to my phone. However, I’ll also be the first to admit that Apple Pay is really, really convenient.

I usually have my phone in my hand anyway. It’s nice to be able to hold it up and instantly get through the checkout without rifling through my wallet. I’ve also been storing plane tickets in my Apple Wallet for years now. Once I have the option, I’ll probably go ahead and add my license.

Keep in mind that states allowing digital documents to be stored in Apple Wallets are separate from airline travel. In fact, the TSA lists 20 states that allow digital IDs (not specific to iPhone users) at airports across the country.

Oddly, California hasn’t approved the iPhone feature yet. However, this week, AppleInsider said that it thinks California is next. The delay might have something to do with how reportedly “controlling” Apple has been about installing the feature. Per AppleInsider, much, if not all, of the administrative and financial burdens of the feature’s adoption and management are put on the state. For instance, Apple likely refuses to take responsibility for the validity of the documents stored in any Apple Wallet, putting this on states to confirm.

In any case, as time passes, I’d expect digital wallets to become the home of many Americans’ driver’s licenses. To many of us, it just makes sense to migrate to digital versions. Considering the CrowdStrike bug that caused nationwide tech outages across many industries, keeping “paper” versions is still a must, though.

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Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Kennedy

Sarah Kennedy joined the MotorBiscuit team as managing editor in 2021 and brings with her a bevy of automotive expertise. She’s an ASE-Certified Automotive Service Consultant and licensed car salesperson with over a decade of shop operations experience.

Sarah was the creator of “Shop Smarts” for MOTOR Magazine and was a contributor from 2013 to 2020. Her work earned her a Gold Medalist award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors in 2014 and Bronze Medalist awards from the International Automotive Media Competition in 2014 and 2015.

She has attended the Automotive Management Institute and earned her bachelor’s degree in English from The Ohio State University.