What Texas's digital driver license is and how to check it
Texas offers a digital driver license through a mobile app called MobileID, which lets you show your license on your phone instead of carrying a physical card. The digital version has the same legal weight as a plastic license in most situations — police, banks, and retailers can scan it. To check the status of your digital license, you log into your MobileID account through the app or the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) website and view your current status there.
The digital license is separate from your physical license. You can have both active at the same time, or use one without the other. If you're checking on a digital license you've already created, you're looking at whether it's currently active, expired, or suspended. If you haven't created one yet and want to know whether you're able to, you'll need to check your physical license status first — your digital license can only be as valid as the physical license it's based on.
Key Takeaways
- Texas's MobileID app lets you carry your driver license on your phone, and you check its status by logging into the app with your DPS account.
- Your digital license status mirrors your physical license status — if your physical license is suspended or expired, your digital version is too.
- You can create a digital license through MobileID only if your physical Texas license is currently valid and not suspended.
- The DPS website and the MobileID app both show you the same status information, so you can check from either one.
How to check your status through the MobileID app
read the MobileID app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Open it and sign in with your DPS online account credentials — the same username and password you'd use on the Texas DPS website. If you don't have a DPS online account yet, you'll need to create one first through the DPS website (dps.texas.gov).
Once you're logged in, the app shows your digital license status on the main screen. It will display whether your license is active, expired, or suspended. If you've already created a digital license in MobileID, you can also see the expiration date and any restrictions or endorsements on your license. The app updates in real time when your license status changes.
Checking your status on the Texas DPS website
Go to dps.texas.gov and look for the "Online Services" section. Click on "Check Driver License Status" or a similar link (the exact wording changes occasionally, but it's always in the main navigation). You'll be asked to log in with your DPS online account.
After you log in, the website shows your current license status, expiration date, any active suspensions or restrictions, and whether you have a digital license on file. This is the same information the MobileID app displays. If you see a status you don't recognize or believe is wrong, you can contact the DPS directly — their phone number and local office locations are on the same website.
What different license statuses mean
Active means your license is valid and you can legally drive. Your digital license, if you have one, is also valid for presenting to police or other officials.
Expired means your license has passed its expiration date and is no longer valid for driving. You cannot use an expired digital license either. You'll need to renew your physical license through the DPS before you can drive legally or create a new digital license.
Suspended means your driving privileges have been taken away, usually because of unpaid traffic fines, failure to pay child support, or a conviction. A suspended license cannot be used for driving, and a digital license based on a suspended physical license is also invalid. You must resolve the suspension with the DPS before you can drive again.
Revoked is more serious than suspension — it means your license has been permanently cancelled, usually after multiple violations or a serious offense. You cannot drive, and you'll have to go through the full licensing process again to get a new license.
Creating a digital license if you don't have one yet
Your physical Texas license must be valid and not suspended to create a digital version. Open the MobileID app, log in with your DPS account, and follow the prompts to add your license. You'll take a photo of yourself (a selfie) and verify your identity. The process usually takes a few minutes.
If you try to create a digital license and the app tells you that you can't, it's because your physical license is expired, suspended, or revoked. Check your physical license status first through the DPS website. Once your physical license is valid again, you can create the digital version.
What to do if your status shows a problem
If your status shows suspended or revoked and you believe it's an error, contact the DPS directly. Go to dps.texas.gov, find the phone number for your local DPS office, and call to ask why your license is suspended. Common reasons include unpaid traffic tickets, failure to appear in court, or unpaid child support — and the DPS can tell you exactly what needs to be resolved.
If your license shows expired, you can renew it online through the DPS website (if you're may be able to access for online renewal), by mail, or in person at a DPS office. Renewal is faster online if your license hasn't been expired for more than two years.
If you created a digital license and it's no longer showing as active even though your physical license is valid, log out of the MobileID app completely and log back in. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to show the current status. If it still shows inactive after that, contact the DPS — there may be a technical issue with your digital license that needs to be fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my digital license if my physical license is suspended?
No. Your digital license status is tied directly to your physical license. If your physical license is suspended, your digital license is also suspended and cannot be used. You must resolve the suspension with the DPS before either version is valid again.
What if I lost my phone or uninstalled the MobileID app?
Your digital license is stored in your DPS account, not just on your phone. You can reinstall the MobileID app on the same phone or a new one, log in with your DPS account, and your digital license will reappear. Your license status doesn't change when you switch phones.
How often does the status update on the MobileID app?
The app updates in real time when changes are made to your license through the DPS system. If you just renewed your license or resolved a suspension, the status should reflect that change within minutes of the DPS processing it.
Can I check someone else's digital license status?
No. You can only view the status of a license registered to your own DPS account. Each person must log in with their own credentials to see their own license status.
What if the DPS website or MobileID app won't let me log in?
First, make sure you're using the correct username and password for your DPS online account. If you've forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the DPS website to reset it. If you don't have a DPS online account yet, you'll need to create one before you can check your status. If you still can't log in after resetting your password, contact the DPS by phone for help.