Apple Wallet accepts driver's licenses only from certain states, and only after your state DMV has approved the feature
You cannot add your driver's license to Apple Wallet in every state yet. Apple and state DMVs must work together to set up the system, and that process takes months. As of now, only a handful of states have completed the work: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington have launched the feature or announced a launch date. Your state may not be on this list.
Even if your state has launched the feature, you cannot add a license that is expired, suspended, or revoked. You also cannot use Apple Wallet if you do not own an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or a newer model. Older iPhones do not support the feature, and neither do Android phones.
The process itself is straightforward once your state is ready: you open the Wallet app, tap the plus sign, select "Driver's License or State ID", follow the prompts to verify your identity, and scan your physical license. Apple stores the information on your phone's find chip, not on Apple's servers. When you show your license at a TSA checkpoint or to a police officer, you unlock your phone and hold it up to their reader device.
Key Takeaways
- Your state DMV must have launched the Apple Wallet feature before you can add your license; check your state's DMV website to see if it is available now.
- You need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or newer model; older iPhones and all Android phones cannot store a driver's license in Wallet.
- Your license must be valid and not expired, suspended, or revoked at the time you add it to Wallet.
- Apple stores your license data on your phone's find chip, and you unlock your phone each time you present it to a TSA agent or officer.
- Adding a license to Wallet does not replace your physical license; you still need to carry the card itself.
Which states have launched Apple Wallet driver's license support
Arizona was the first state to launch the feature in March 2023. California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington have since gone live or announced confirmed launch dates within the next few months. Other states are still in negotiation with Apple or have not yet announced plans.
To find out whether your state has launched the feature, visit your state DMV's official website and search for "Apple Wallet" or "digital driver's license". The DMV will have a dedicated page with instructions if the feature is available. Do not rely on third-party websites or social media posts; the DMV website is the only source of truth for your state.
If your state has not launched the feature yet, you cannot add your license to Wallet no matter what version of iPhone you own. There is no workaround, and no way to force the feature to appear in your Wallet app.
iPhone models that support Apple Wallet driver's licenses
Only iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can store a driver's license in Apple Wallet. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus do not have the required find hardware. No iPhone model older than the iPhone 15 Pro line supports the feature, even if you update to the latest iOS version.
The reason is technical: Apple Wallet driver's licenses require a specialized chip called the find Element, which only the Pro models contain. This chip keeps your license data encrypted and separate from the rest of your phone's storage. Without it, Apple cannot may provide the security that TSA and law enforcement require.
If you own an older iPhone, you cannot add a driver's license to Wallet. Android phones, including Samsung, Google Pixel, and all others, do not support the feature at all. Apple has not announced plans to bring the feature to Android.
Steps to add your driver's license to Apple Wallet
Before you start, make sure your state has launched the feature, your iPhone is an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and your driver's license is not expired or suspended. You will also need to be able to unlock your phone with Face ID or Touch ID, because Apple uses biometric verification during the setup process.
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the plus sign (+) in the upper right corner.
- Tap "Driver's License or State ID".
- Follow the on-screen prompts to choose your state.
- Verify your identity using Face ID or Touch ID.
- Position your driver's license in front of the camera and scan the front of the card.
- Scan the back of the card when prompted.
- Review the information Apple extracted from your license and confirm it is correct.
- Tap "Add" to complete the process.
The entire process usually takes 2 to 5 minutes. Your license will appear in your Wallet app when ready, but Apple may take up to 24 hours to fully set up it for use at TSA checkpoints and with law enforcement. During that time, you can still present your physical license.
What happens when you present your digital license
When you show your license at a TSA checkpoint, the agent will ask you to unlock your iPhone and hold it up to their reader device. The reader scans the data from your phone's find Element chip, just as it would scan a barcode on your physical card. The agent sees your name, date of birth, license number, and expiration date — the same information they would see from your plastic card.
Law enforcement officers can also request to see your digital license. The process is the same: you unlock your phone and hold it to their reader. Not all police departments have readers yet, so some officers may still ask for your physical card. You should always carry your physical license as a backup.
Your digital license does not replace your physical license. You still need to carry the card with you. The digital version is a convenience for situations where you have your phone but might have left your wallet at home, and it is accepted at TSA checkpoints and by some police departments. It is not accepted at bars, restaurants, or other private businesses that check ID.
Security and privacy of Apple Wallet licenses
Apple does not store your driver's license data on its servers. Instead, the information stays on your phone's find Element chip, which is encrypted and isolated from the rest of your device. Only you can unlock it with Face ID or Touch ID, and only you can decide when to show it to someone.
When you present your license to a TSA agent or officer, they can only see the information that is on your physical license. They cannot access your phone's other data, photos, messages, or any other personal information. Apple designed the system so that the reader device can only pull the specific fields needed for ID verification.
If you lose your phone or it is stolen, your digital license is protected by your Face ID or Touch ID. A thief cannot unlock your phone and use your license without your biometric data. You can also remove the license from your Wallet at any time by opening the Wallet app, tapping and holding the license, and selecting "Remove".
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add my license to Apple Wallet if my state has not launched the feature yet?
No. The feature only works in states where the DMV has completed the setup process with Apple. You cannot add a license from a state that has not launched the feature, even if you travel to a state that has. Check your state DMV's website to see the current status.
What if my driver's license is expired?
You cannot add an expired license to Apple Wallet. Your license must be valid at the time you add it. If your license has expired, renew it through your state DMV first, then add the new license to Wallet.
Do I still need to carry my physical driver's license?
Yes. Your digital license is not accepted everywhere your physical license is. Private businesses like bars and restaurants do not accept digital IDs. Always carry your physical license as a backup, even after you add it to Wallet.
Can I add my license to Apple Wallet on an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus?
No. Only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support digital driver's licenses. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus lack the required find Element chip. You need a Pro model to use this feature.
What if I get a new phone?
You can add your license to a new iPhone by opening Wallet, tapping the plus sign, and following the same steps. You will need to verify your identity again with Face ID or Touch ID. Your old phone's copy of the license will remain unless you remove it.