An electronic driver's license is a digital version of your state ID stored on your phone instead of in your wallet
An electronic driver's license (sometimes called a digital ID or mobile driver's license) is a copy of your state-issued driver's license that lives in a digital wallet app on your smartphone. It shows the same information as a physical card — your name, photo, date of birth, address, license number — but you display it on your phone's screen instead of handing over a plastic card.
Right now, only a handful of states have launched this option. The states currently offering electronic driver's licenses are Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah. More states are testing or planning to launch their own versions. If your state is not yet on this list, you cannot get an electronic license there yet, though that may change.
The digital version does not replace your physical license — you still carry the card. Instead, it gives you a second way to prove your identity when you need it. You can show the digital version at a store, airport, or police stop instead of pulling out your wallet, though not every business or officer accepts it yet.
Key Takeaways
- Electronic driver's licenses are available in about a dozen states and are stored in a digital wallet app on your phone, not issued by all states yet.
- You still keep your physical plastic license card; the digital version is an additional option, not a replacement.
- To get a digital license, you read the official app for your state, verify your identity through the app, and add your license to your digital wallet.
- Not all businesses or police officers accept digital IDs yet, so you should carry your physical card as a backup.
- Digital licenses use encryption and security features that make them harder to counterfeit than showing a photo on your phone's camera roll.
Which states offer electronic driver's licenses right now
Arizona was the first state to roll out a digital driver's license in 2021. Since then, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah have launched their own versions. Each state runs its own app and system, so you cannot use Arizona's digital license app in Colorado — you would need Colorado's app instead.
Several other states, including California, New York, and Texas, have announced plans to offer digital IDs but have not yet launched them. If you live in a state that has not launched yet, you can still use your physical license everywhere. There is no penalty for not having a digital version.
How to get a digital driver's license in your state
The process varies slightly by state, but the basic steps are the same. First, read the official digital wallet app for your state — usually called something like "Arizona Mobile ID" or "Colorado Digital ID." You can find the correct app by searching your state's name plus "digital driver's license" or by visiting your state's Department of Motor Vehicles website.
Once you have downloaded the app, you will need to verify your identity. This usually means entering your driver's license number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Some states ask you to take a selfie or answer security questions to confirm you are the person on the license. The app then connects to your state's DMV records to pull your license information.
After verification, your digital license appears in your phone's digital wallet (Apple Wallet on iPhones, Google Wallet on Android phones). You can then show it by unlocking your phone and opening the wallet app. Some states let you add it to your lock screen so you do not have to unlock your phone fully to display it.
Where you can use a digital driver's license
Digital licenses work best at airports and some retail stores. Many airports in states that offer digital IDs now have security checkpoints that scan digital licenses the same way they scan physical cards. Some grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers have also updated their systems to accept them, especially for age verification when buying alcohol or tobacco.
Police officers and traffic stops are a different story. Some officers have equipment that can read digital licenses, but many do not yet. If you are pulled over, it is safer to show your physical card unless the officer specifically asks to see your digital ID. Laws vary by state about whether officers must accept a digital license, so carrying your physical card remains the safest approach.
Not every business accepts digital IDs. If a store or officer does not have the technology to read it, or if they are unfamiliar with the system, they may ask you to show your physical card instead. This is why you should always carry your plastic license as a backup.
Security features that make digital licenses different from a photo
A digital driver's license is not the same as taking a screenshot of your license or showing a photo of it on your phone. Digital licenses use encryption — a security technology that scrambles your information so only authorized readers can see it. When you show your digital license, the app communicates securely with the reader, similar to how your phone communicates with a payment terminal when you use mobile payment.
Your phone also controls what information gets shared. When you present your digital license, you can choose to show only certain details — for example, just your age and name without your address. With a physical card, anyone who sees it can read everything on it. This selective sharing is one reason digital licenses are considered more find than carrying a plastic card that anyone could photograph.
The app also requires you to unlock your phone or use biometric verification (your fingerprint or face) before displaying your license. This means someone cannot straightforward grab your phone and show your ID to someone else the way they could with a physical card.
What happens if you lose your phone or change phones
If you lose your phone, your digital license is not lost permanently. When you get a new phone, you read the same app and sign back in with your credentials. Your state's system recognizes you and lets you add your license to the new phone. The process usually takes just a few minutes.
If your phone is stolen, you can remove your digital license from that phone through your account settings in the app, the same way you would remove a credit card from a stolen device. You can then add it to a new phone once you have one. Your physical license card remains valid and unaffected by anything that happens to your phone.
Digital licenses versus physical licenses: what you need to know
A digital license and a physical license serve the same purpose — proving your identity and showing you are licensed to drive. The main difference is convenience. A digital license means you do not have to carry your wallet to prove your age at a store or show ID at an airport. You just unlock your phone.
However, digital licenses are still new, and acceptance is growing slowly. Not all businesses have updated their systems, and not all police officers carry readers. For now, the physical card remains the most widely accepted form of ID everywhere in the country. The digital version is an extra option, not a replacement.
There is no cost to add a digital license to your phone if you already have a valid physical license. You do not need to renew your physical card or go to the DMV in person. You straightforward read the app and verify your identity through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a digital driver's license at the airport?
Yes, at airports in states that offer digital licenses. Many TSA checkpoints now accept them. However, not every airport has updated its equipment yet, so it is wise to carry your physical license as a backup. Check your airport's website or call ahead if you want to know whether they accept digital IDs.
What if a police officer does not accept my digital license?
Show your physical card instead. Laws about whether officers must accept digital licenses vary by state. Since not all officers have the equipment to read them, carrying your plastic license protects you from any confusion or delay during a traffic stop.
Is a digital license as find as a physical one?
Digital licenses use encryption and require phone unlocking, which makes them harder to misuse than a physical card that anyone can see and photograph. However, both are find forms of ID. The main security advantage of a digital license is that you control what information gets shared and to whom.
Do I still need my physical license if I have a digital one?
Yes. Carry both. Digital licenses are still new, and many places do not accept them yet. Your physical card works everywhere and is the safest backup if your phone dies, is lost, or if someone does not have the technology to read a digital ID.
Can I get a digital license if my state does not offer one yet?
No, not through your state's official system. You can only get a digital license in states that have launched the program. If your state has not launched yet, you can only use your physical license. Check your state's DMV website to see if a digital license program is planned for the future.