Apple Wallet now supports mobile driver's licenses (mDLs) in select U.S. states, letting eligible users store a digital version of their ID directly on their iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature works through Apple's Wallet app and can be used at participating TSA checkpoints and select state identity verification points — but availability, setup steps, and accepted use cases depend heavily on where you live.
Here's how the process generally works, and what shapes whether it's available to you at all.
An mDL stored in Apple Wallet is not just a photo of your license. It's a state-issued digital credential — cryptographically verified — that your state DMV transmits directly to your device. It carries the same legal weight as a physical card in jurisdictions that accept it.
This is different from simply snapping a photo of your license or storing it in a notes app. The Apple Wallet mDL is tied to your identity through your state's DMV systems and is designed to be tamper-resistant and privacy-respecting. When you present it, you can choose to share only specific information (like age verification) rather than your full license details.
This is the biggest variable. Apple Wallet's mDL feature only works in states that have officially partnered with Apple and built the DMV infrastructure to support it. As of recent rollouts, a limited but growing number of states have launched or are piloting the feature — including Arizona, Georgia, and Maryland among early adopters — but the list changes as more states build compatible systems.
If your state isn't participating yet, you cannot add your driver's license to Apple Wallet, regardless of your iPhone model or iOS version. There is no workaround.
To find out whether your state is currently supported, check your state DMV's official website or the Apple Wallet state ID support page, as participation status changes as new states launch.
In states where the feature is available, the setup process generally follows these steps:
Even within a participating state, several factors shape how the process works for you:
| Variable | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| State participation | Only DMV-partnered states support the feature at all |
| License type | Most mDL programs support standard and Real ID licenses; CDLs and learner's permits may not be eligible |
| License status | Suspended, expired, or restricted licenses may not be eligible for digital issuance |
| Device compatibility | Requires a supported iPhone model and current iOS version |
| Apple ID / Face ID setup | Face ID must be active on the device; the feature doesn't work with Touch ID-only devices |
| Where it's accepted | TSA PreCheck lanes at select airports and state-designated ID checkpoints — not all businesses or law enforcement situations |
Even in supported states, accepted use cases are limited. The primary official use is at TSA security checkpoints at participating airports. The TSA agent uses an identity reader — you hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near it, authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, and the credential is verified without you handing over your physical card.
Some states also allow mDL use at state-level identity verification points, but most retail businesses, banks, and law enforcement agencies are not equipped to accept digital IDs at this time. Carrying your physical license remains necessary in most real-world situations.
States that support Apple Wallet mDLs generally require your underlying physical license to be valid and in good standing. Whether your specific license class — standard, Real ID-compliant, provisional, or commercial — qualifies for digital issuance varies by state program design.
Real ID compliance on your physical license doesn't automatically enable the mDL feature, but many state mDL programs are built alongside Real ID infrastructure since both require verified identity documentation.
The short version: your state's participation status is the first and most significant factor. After that, your device, license type, and license standing all matter. The setup steps Apple provides are consistent across supported states, but the backend verification — handled by your state DMV — introduces the variability that makes each person's experience different.
Whether your state has launched the feature, whether your license class qualifies, and where your digital ID will actually be accepted are questions your state DMV's official resources can answer more precisely than any general guide.