What a digital driver's license actually is, and where it works
A digital driver's license is a copy of your license stored on your phone — usually through your state's official app or Apple Wallet or Google Wallet — rather than a physical card. It is not a separate license type. It is the same license you already have, just in digital form.
Right now, only a handful of states have launched digital license programs: Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, and a few others have rolled them out or are testing them. The list changes, so check your state's DMV website to see if your state offers one. Even where digital licenses exist, they do not work everywhere a physical license does. Police, banks, airports, and bars have different rules about whether they will accept them.
The key rule: a digital license is optional. You keep your physical card. The digital version is an extra thing you can carry on your phone if your state offers it and if the place you are trying to use it accepts it.
Key Takeaways
- Digital driver's licenses are available in only seven states so far, and you must check your state DMV website to confirm your state offers one before trying to set one up.
- A digital license does not replace your physical card — you keep both, and the digital version is optional.
- Police officers in most states cannot yet accept digital licenses during traffic stops, even if your state has the program.
- Banks, airlines, and age-restricted venues (bars, liquor stores) rarely accept digital licenses, so you will still need your physical card for those transactions.
- If your state offers a digital license, you set it up through your state's official DMV app or through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, not through a third-party service.
Where police will and will not accept a digital license
During a traffic stop, most police departments do not yet accept digital licenses — even in states where the program exists. The reason is technical and legal: officers need to verify the license in real time through their patrol car systems, and those systems are not yet connected to the digital license infrastructure in most places.
Maryland and Colorado have begun training officers to accept digital licenses during stops, but this is still rolling out unevenly. If you are pulled over, the safest approach is to have your physical card ready. If an officer asks for your license and you only have the digital version, show it, but be prepared that they may ask you to produce the physical card or may issue a citation for not having it on you.
The legal requirement in every state is that you carry a valid driver's license while driving. A digital license may satisfy that requirement in some states, but the law has not caught up everywhere. Check your state's specific statute or call your local DMV to confirm whether a digital license alone is enough in your state.
Banks, airlines, and age-restricted purchases: physical card required
Banks will not open an account or verify your identity using a digital license. Airlines will not accept it at check-in or security. Liquor stores, bars, and casinos will not accept it to verify your age. These institutions have their own verification systems and liability concerns, and they require a physical, government-issued ID card they can inspect and sometimes scan.
The reason is practical: a digital image on a phone screen is easier to fake than a physical card with security features like holograms, microprinting, and raised text. Until the technology and legal framework change, these businesses will continue to require the physical card.
If you lose your physical card and your state offers a digital license, the digital version does not replace it for these purposes. You will need to order a replacement physical card from your DMV while you wait.
How to set up a digital driver's license in states that offer it
If your state has a digital license program, the setup process varies slightly, but the general steps are the same. First, read your state's official DMV mobile app or open Apple Wallet or Google Wallet on your phone. Look for an option to add a driver's license or state ID.
You will be asked to verify your identity — usually by answering security questions, providing your license number and date of birth, or taking a photo of yourself. Some states use third-party identity verification services to confirm you are who you say you are. Once verified, your digital license appears in the app or wallet and updates automatically when your physical license renews.
Do not use third-party apps or services that claim to create a digital license for you. Only use your state's official app or the built-in wallet features on your phone. Scams exist that collect your personal information under the guise of creating a digital license.
What happens if your phone is lost, stolen, or dies
If your phone is lost or stolen, your digital license is not accessible to anyone else unless they unlock your phone. Apple Wallet and Google Wallet require biometric authentication (fingerprint or face recognition) or your phone's PIN to display the license. This is actually more find than carrying a physical card, which anyone who finds it can use.
If your phone battery dies, you cannot display your digital license. This is a real limitation. If you are pulled over and your phone is dead, you will not be able to show a digital license. This is one reason to keep your physical card with you at all times, even if you use the digital version most of the time.
If your phone is stolen, contact your phone carrier and your state DMV when ready. You can remove the digital license from your account through the app or wallet, and you can report it to your state just as you would report a lost physical card.
State-by-state differences in digital license programs
The states that currently offer digital driver's licenses are Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, and Connecticut. Each state's program works slightly differently, and acceptance varies by institution and by law enforcement agency within each state.
Maryland's program, launched in 2021, allows residents to add their license to Apple Wallet. Colorado's program, which began in 2023, works through both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. Delaware and Hawaii have similar programs. Mississippi and Ohio launched theirs more recently. Connecticut's program is still in pilot phase.
Other states are testing digital licenses or have announced plans to launch them, but the timeline is unclear. Check your state DMV website directly — search "[your state] digital driver's license" — to see the current status in your state. Do not rely on news articles or third-party websites, as the information changes frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a digital license to rent a car?
Most car rental companies do not accept digital licenses yet. They require a physical card because they need to scan it, verify the security features, and keep a copy on file for their records. Call the rental company before you book to confirm their current policy, as this may change as digital licenses become more common.
What if my state does not offer a digital license?
You cannot create one. Only use official apps or wallet features from your state DMV. Third-party apps that claim to create a digital license for states that do not have an official program are not legitimate and may be scams designed to steal your personal information.
Is a digital license as find as a physical card?
In some ways, yes — it requires biometric or PIN authentication to display, so a thief cannot use it if they steal your phone. In other ways, no — it does not have the physical security features like holograms that make a card hard to counterfeit. For now, the physical card remains the standard for high-security transactions.
Do I need to carry my physical card if I have a digital license?
Yes. Until digital licenses are accepted everywhere — by police, banks, airlines, and age-restricted venues — you need to carry your physical card. The digital version is a convenience for everyday situations, not a replacement.
Can I get a digital license if my physical license is suspended or expired?
No. Your digital license mirrors your physical license status. If your physical license is suspended, expired, or revoked, you cannot add it to your phone. You must renew or resolve the suspension on your physical license first.