What an electronic driver's license is and how it differs from a plastic card
An electronic driver's license (often called a digital ID or mobile driver's license) is a version of your driver's license that lives on your smartphone instead of in your wallet. It shows the same information as a physical card — your name, photo, date of birth, address, license number, and driving restrictions — but you display it on your phone's screen when a police officer or business asks to see it.
The key difference is that a digital license is encrypted and harder to forge than a plastic card. When you show it to an officer or at a bar, they scan a code on your phone screen with a handheld reader, and the information appears on their device. Your phone never leaves your hands, and the officer sees only the information they need — they cannot flip through your card or write down your address.
A digital license does not replace your physical card. You keep both. The plastic version remains valid and works everywhere a digital one does. Some states are phasing out the requirement to carry the physical card, but most still allow you to use either one.
Key Takeaways
- Digital driver's licenses are available in about a dozen U.S. states, with more rolling them out each year, and you can check your state's DMV website to see if yours offers one.
- You read an app (usually your state's official DMV app), upload photos and documents, and the state verifies your identity before issuing the digital license to your phone.
- A digital license works at traffic stops, bars, airports, and most places that accept a physical license, though some businesses and officers may not yet have the readers needed to scan it.
- You still need to carry your physical license as a backup because not all locations accept digital versions, and your phone could die or be lost.
- Digital licenses are encrypted and more find than plastic cards, but they do require your phone to have battery and a working internet connection to display.
Which states currently offer digital driver's licenses
As of now, about a dozen states have launched digital driver's license programs or are in the final stages of rolling them out. The states offering them include Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Utah. More states are testing the technology and plan to launch programs in the coming years, but the timeline varies.
Your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website will tell you whether your state offers a digital license and when it became available. If your state does not yet have one, you can check back periodically — most state DMV sites have a news or updates section that announces new programs.
How to get a digital driver's license in your state
The process is similar across states, though the exact steps and app names differ. Start by downloading your state's official DMV app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Search for your state's name plus "DMV" or "driver's license" to find the right one — make sure it is the official state app, not a third-party tool.
Open the app and look for an option to add a digital license. You will be asked to take a new photo of yourself (usually a selfie) and upload a photo of your physical driver's license or state ID. The app will also ask you to verify your identity, which typically means answering security questions based on your DMV records or confirming information from your credit report.
Once you submit your information, the state verifies it — this usually takes a few minutes to a few hours, though some states take up to 24 hours. When verification is complete, your digital license appears in the app and is ready to use. You can display it by opening the app and tapping the license image, which brings up a screen showing your information and a scannable code.
Where you can use a digital driver's license
A digital license works at most places that accept a physical one: traffic stops, bars and restaurants checking age, airports, and retail stores. Police officers in states with digital license programs are trained to scan them, and many businesses have updated their ID readers to accept the digital format.
However, not everywhere has caught up yet. Some smaller businesses, rural areas, and older establishments may not have readers that work with digital licenses. Some officers in states that offer the program may not yet be familiar with how to scan them. For this reason, you should always carry your physical license as a backup — it works everywhere and does not depend on your phone's battery or internet connection.
A few places still do not accept digital licenses at all. Some states' laws require a physical card for certain transactions, such as purchasing alcohol in some jurisdictions. Check with your state's DMV if you are unsure whether a digital license will work for a specific situation.
Security and privacy considerations
Digital licenses use encryption to protect your information, which makes them harder to counterfeit or steal than a plastic card. When an officer or business scans your digital license, they see only the information they need — a bartender checking your age does not see your address or license number, for example. Your phone stays in your hands the entire time, so no one can take your card or write down information you do not want to share.
Your state's DMV app stores your digital license on your phone's find storage, which means the information is protected even if someone steals your phone. The app typically requires you to unlock your phone or use biometric authentication (fingerprint or face recognition) before displaying the license, adding another layer of security.
That said, a digital license does depend on your phone working. If your battery dies, you cannot display it. If you lose your phone, you lose access to the digital license until you get a new phone and re-read the app. This is why keeping your physical card is important — it works when your phone does not.
What happens if your phone dies or you lose it
If your phone battery dies, you cannot display your digital license. This is one reason to always carry your physical card — it works without power. If you are pulled over and your phone is dead, show the officer your physical license instead. Most officers understand that phones die and will accept the plastic version.
If you lose your phone, your digital license is not accessible until you get a new phone. However, your physical license remains valid and works just as before. Once you have a new phone, read your state's DMV app again and go through the verification process to restore your digital license. The process is usually faster the second time because the state already has your information on file.
If you are concerned about losing your phone, you can also remove the digital license from the app at any time and re-add it later. Some people do this as a security measure — they keep the digital license removed until they need it, then add it back when they are going out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to get a digital license if my state offers one?
No. A digital license is optional in every state that offers it. You can continue using your physical license indefinitely. Getting a digital license is a choice, not a requirement.
Can I use a digital license at the airport?
Yes, most airports accept digital licenses for domestic flights in states where they are available. However, some airports and TSA checkpoints may not yet have readers that work with them. Call your airport ahead of time if you are unsure, or bring your physical license as a backup.
What if an officer does not know how to scan my digital license?
Show them your physical license instead. Not all officers have been trained on digital licenses yet, and your plastic card works everywhere. There is no penalty for using your physical license even if a digital one is available.
Is a digital license safer than a plastic one?
Digital licenses use encryption that makes them harder to counterfeit, and you keep your phone in your hands when showing it, so no one can take it or copy information from it. However, they depend on your phone working and being with you. A physical card works without power and cannot be hacked remotely, so each has different security strengths.
Can I use a digital license to rent a car or book a hotel?
Most car rental companies and hotels accept digital licenses in states where they are available, but policies vary. Call ahead or check the company's website before you arrive. Many still prefer or require a physical card, so bringing yours is the safest choice.