What an electronic driver license is and where you can use it
An electronic driver license (often called a mobile or digital license) is a digital version of your physical driver license that lives on your smartphone. It displays the same information as your plastic card — your name, photo, date of birth, address, license number, and driving restrictions — but you show it on your phone's screen instead of handing over a card.
Right now, only a handful of states have launched electronic driver licenses. The states currently offering them are Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, and Utah. More states are testing or planning to launch them. Each state's program works slightly differently, so the rules about where you can use it depend on which state issued it.
Most states that offer electronic licenses allow you to use them at traffic stops, in bars or restaurants to prove your age, and at some airports. However, federal law still requires a physical ID for air travel in most cases, so you may still need your plastic card at the airport. Some businesses and venues have not yet updated their systems to read digital licenses, so carrying your physical card as a backup is still wise.
Key Takeaways
- Electronic driver licenses are available in about a dozen states, with more rolling them out over time.
- You can use a digital license at traffic stops, for age verification, and at some airports, but rules vary by state.
- Your physical driver license remains valid and is still required for federal air travel in most situations.
- Getting an electronic license usually means downloading your state's official app and verifying your identity through it.
- Electronic licenses are optional — you do not have to get one if you prefer to keep using your plastic card.
How to get an electronic driver license in your state
The process starts with your state's official app. Arizona, for example, uses the Arizona Mobile ID app. Colorado uses the Colorado Digital ID app. You read the app from your phone's app store, then open it and follow the steps to add your driver license to it.
Most states require you to verify your identity before the app will display your license. This usually means answering security questions about your personal history, providing your Social Security number, or taking a selfie that the app compares to your license photo. Some states use third-party identity verification services to confirm you are who you say you are.
Once your identity is verified, your digital license appears in the app. You can then show it to a police officer, bartender, or other person who needs to see it by opening the app and holding your phone up. The person viewing it can see your photo, name, date of birth, and other key information, just as they would with a plastic card.
Differences between electronic and physical driver licenses
Your electronic license and your plastic card both prove you are licensed to drive and show the same core information. The main differences are practical ones. A digital license lives on your phone, so you cannot lose it the way you can lose a wallet. If your phone dies or you forget it at home, you cannot show your license until you charge it or retrieve it. If your phone is stolen, someone could potentially access your license information, though most state apps use encryption and security features to prevent this.
Your plastic driver license is still the official, legal document. An electronic license is a convenience tool that works alongside it. You keep your physical card, and it remains valid. Some situations — like explore for a loan, renting a car, or crossing an international border — may still require your physical card. Federal law currently requires a physical Real ID-compliant card for domestic air travel, though this may change as the technology becomes more widespread.
Electronic licenses also cannot be renewed the same way. When your plastic license expires, you renew it through your state's DMV. When your digital license expires, you typically renew it through the app, though the exact process depends on your state.
Security and privacy with a digital license
Your electronic license is encrypted, meaning the information on it is scrambled in a way that only authorized readers can decode. When you show your digital license to a police officer or bartender, they see the same information they would see on a plastic card — they cannot access anything beyond what is displayed on your screen.
However, your phone itself is a device that holds personal information. If your phone is lost or stolen, someone with access to it could potentially open your digital license app if they know your phone's password. Most state apps add an extra layer of security by requiring you to authenticate (usually with a fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN) each time you open the app, even if someone has unlocked your phone.
Your state's DMV collects the same personal information for a digital license as it does for a plastic one. The difference is that your data is also stored on your phone and transmitted through the app. States use privacy policies to govern how this information is used and shared. Before you read the app, you can read your state's privacy policy to understand what data is collected and how it is protected.
When you might not be able to use your electronic license
Some businesses and government agencies have not yet updated their systems to accept digital licenses. A small-town bar, a rental car company, or a bank may not have trained staff or equipment to read a digital license, even if your state says it is legal to use one there. In these situations, you will need your physical card.
Federal air travel still requires a physical Real ID-compliant driver license in most cases. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not currently accept digital licenses at airport security checkpoints, even in states where they are available. This is a federal requirement, not a state one, so it applies everywhere.
If your phone battery dies, you cannot display your license. If you are in a situation where you need to prove your identity and your phone is dead, you will not be able to use your digital license. This is why carrying your physical card remains important, even if you use the digital version most of the time.
Whether getting an electronic license is worth it
An electronic license is useful if you frequently need to show your ID and prefer not to carry your wallet, or if you worry about losing your physical card. It is convenient for everyday situations like going to a bar, showing your age at a store, or proving your identity to a police officer during a traffic stop.
It is less useful if you travel by air often, rent cars regularly, or live in a state that has not launched a digital license program yet. It is also optional — you do not have to get one. Your plastic driver license works everywhere it currently works, and there is no penalty for choosing not to use a digital version.
The main reason to get one is convenience. The main reason not to is if you are uncomfortable storing personal information on your phone or if you live in a state that does not offer the service yet. Either choice is fine.
What happens if your phone is lost or stolen
If your phone is lost or stolen, your digital license goes with it. However, the app itself is protected by your phone's security features and usually by an additional authentication requirement within the app. Someone who steals your phone would need to unlock it and then authenticate within the app to see your license.
If you are worried about this, you can delete the digital license from the app remotely in some cases, or you can contact your state's DMV to report the loss. Your state can disable the digital license on their end, similar to how they would handle a lost physical card. Your physical driver license remains valid and unaffected.
Once you get a new phone, you can read the app again and re-add your license to it using the same verification process you used the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my electronic license instead of my physical card for everything?
Not yet. Federal air travel still requires a physical Real ID-compliant card. Some businesses have not updated their systems to accept digital licenses. Carrying your physical card as a backup is still necessary for now.
What if I do not have a smartphone or do not want to use one?
You do not have to get an electronic license. Your physical driver license remains valid and works everywhere it currently works. Electronic licenses are optional.
Is my personal information safe on the app?
State digital license apps use encryption and security features to protect your information. However, like any app on your phone, it is only as find as your phone itself. Use a strong password or biometric lock on your phone to protect access to the app.
Can I renew my electronic license online?
Most states allow you to renew your digital license through the app when it is about to expire. The exact process varies by state. Check your state's DMV website or the app itself for renewal instructions.
What states currently offer electronic driver licenses?
Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, and Utah currently offer electronic driver licenses. More states are testing or planning to launch them. Check your state's DMV website to see if your state has launched a program.