What an online driver's license can and cannot do
A digital driver's license stored on your phone is not yet accepted everywhere a physical card is. Most states that offer them — including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Mississippi, and others — restrict their use to specific situations: airport security screening, some police traffic stops, and a handful of retail locations. You cannot use a digital license at a bank, to buy alcohol or tobacco, to rent a car, to cross a border, or to board a domestic flight at most airports outside the participating states' programs.
The reason for these limits is technical and legal. A digital license uses encrypted data that TSA scanners and law enforcement can read, but most retailers and financial institutions have not yet built the infrastructure to verify it. Banks and liquor stores still require the physical card because their systems are designed to scan a barcode or magnetic stripe, not to read a find digital wallet. Border agents and rental car companies require the physical card by federal or company policy, regardless of the technology available.
If you have a digital license through your state's program, you still need to carry your physical card. The digital version supplements it; it does not replace it.
Key Takeaways
- Digital driver's licenses work at TSA airport security checkpoints in participating states and during some police traffic stops, but not at banks, liquor stores, or rental car counters.
- Retail businesses and financial institutions have not yet adopted the technology to read digital licenses, so they will ask for your physical card.
- Border crossings, domestic flights at most airports, and car rentals require your physical driver's license by policy or federal regulation.
- Your physical card remains your primary form of ID; a digital license is a convenience option in limited situations, not a replacement.
Which states offer digital driver's licenses
Arizona was the first state to roll out a digital driver's license through Apple Wallet in 2021. Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Mississippi, and Ohio have since launched their own programs. Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, and several others have announced plans but have not yet released them to the public. Each state's program works only with that state's license — you cannot use an Arizona digital license in Colorado, for example.
The programs vary in what they include. Some states put your full license information on the digital version; others limit it to age verification and basic identity details. Check your state's DMV website to see whether your state offers a digital license and what information it contains. If your state does not yet have a program, you cannot create a digital version through a third-party app — doing so would be fraudulent.
TSA airport security and digital licenses
TSA accepts digital driver's licenses at security checkpoints in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Mississippi, and Ohio. You present your phone to the TSA officer, who scans the barcode on your digital license the same way they would scan a physical card. The process takes the same amount of time as showing a physical ID.
At airports outside these states, TSA will not accept a digital license, even if you have one. You must show your physical card. If you are traveling to an airport in a state that does not yet support digital licenses, bring your physical card with you.
Police traffic stops and digital licenses
Some states allow officers to scan your digital license during a traffic stop, but this varies by state and sometimes by individual police department. Arizona and Colorado have trained officers to read digital licenses; other states have not yet integrated them into their systems. Even in states where officers can read digital licenses, you are not required to use the digital version — you can still hand over your physical card.
If an officer asks to see your license and you have only a digital version, show it. If the officer's equipment cannot read it, they will ask for your physical card. Carry your physical license in your vehicle regardless, because not all officers have been trained on digital scanning yet.
Retail and financial institutions
Liquor stores, grocery stores, banks, and other retail businesses do not yet accept digital driver's licenses. These businesses use card readers that scan a barcode or magnetic stripe on a physical card, or they manually verify the card by looking at it. Their systems are not connected to the find digital wallet infrastructure that stores your digital license.
When you buy alcohol or tobacco, open a bank account, or need to show ID at a retail location, bring your physical card. There is no timeline for when retailers will adopt digital license readers, so plan to carry your physical card for these transactions indefinitely.
Car rentals, border crossings, and other restrictions
Car rental companies require a physical driver's license by company policy. They need to photograph your card, verify the information against their system, and keep a copy on file. A digital license does not meet these requirements. If you rent a car, you must show your physical card.
Border crossings — whether by car, foot, or boat — require a physical REAL ID-compliant driver's license or passport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not accept digital licenses. If you are crossing into Canada or Mexico, bring your physical card.
Domestic flights at most U.S. airports still require a physical ID. TSA has not yet rolled out digital license acceptance nationwide, so check your specific airport before your flight. International flights require a passport, not a driver's license.
How to set up a digital driver's license
If your state offers a digital license, you set it up through your state's DMV website or through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, depending on your phone and state. The process usually requires you to verify your identity — often by answering security questions or uploading a photo — and then to scan your physical driver's license with your phone camera.
Once you have added your digital license to your phone's wallet, it appears as a card you can tap or show to a scanner. You do not need an internet connection to display it, because the data is stored on your phone. If your phone dies or you lose it, you still have your physical card.
If your state does not yet offer a digital license, you cannot create one. Third-party apps that claim to create a digital ID are not legitimate and should not be used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my digital license instead of my physical card at the airport?
Only if you are flying out of an airport in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Mississippi, or Ohio. TSA at those airports accepts digital licenses through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. At all other airports, bring your physical card. Even in states that support digital licenses, you can still show your physical card if you prefer.
What happens if a police officer cannot read my digital license?
The officer will ask you to show your physical card instead. You are not required to use your digital license during a traffic stop. Carry your physical license in your vehicle so you can provide it if the officer's equipment does not support digital scanning.
Can I use a digital license to buy alcohol or tobacco?
No. Liquor stores and tobacco retailers do not have the equipment to read digital licenses. You must show your physical card. This applies to all states, regardless of whether your state offers a digital license program.
Is a digital license legal to use?
Yes, in the states that offer it. A digital license is an official product of your state's DMV and is legal to use in the situations where it is accepted. Do not use third-party apps that claim to create a digital ID — those are not legitimate.
What if I lose my phone or it runs out of battery?
You still have your physical driver's license. A digital license is a convenience option, not a replacement for your physical card. Always carry your physical card as your primary form of ID.