What adding your driver's license to your phone means

You can store a digital copy of your driver's license on your phone using a digital wallet app — the same place you keep digital payment cards and plane tickets. This is not the same as taking a photo of your license. A digital license is encrypted, harder to counterfeit, and some businesses and police officers can scan it just like a physical card.

Not every state offers this yet. As of now, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, and Utah allow you to add your driver's license to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. More states are rolling out the feature, but the timeline varies. Check your state's Department of Motor Vehicles website to see if your state supports digital licenses.

Even if your state does support it, you still need to carry your physical license. Digital licenses are not accepted everywhere yet, and some situations — like traffic stops or age verification at certain venues — may still require the physical card.

Key Takeaways

  • Digital driver's licenses are available in about a dozen states right now, and you add them through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, depending on your phone type.
  • You will need your state ID number, Social Security number, and your phone's biometric security (Face ID, Touch ID, or fingerprint) to set up a digital license.
  • Your physical license remains required in most situations — digital licenses are a convenience, not a replacement.
  • The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes and happens entirely on your phone, with no trip to the DMV.

How to add a digital license on iPhone

Open the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap the plus sign in the upper right corner, then select "Driver's License or State ID." Choose your state from the list. If your state is not listed, digital licenses are not yet available there.

Follow the on-screen prompts to take a photo of the front and back of your physical license. The app will ask you to position your license in the frame and take the photo yourself — you cannot upload an existing photo. After you take both photos, you will be asked to take a selfie. This is used to verify your identity and is not stored in the same way as your license information.

Enter your state ID number and the last four digits of your Social Security number when prompted. The app will send this information to your state's DMV to verify your identity. This verification usually takes a few minutes, but can take up to 24 hours. Once verified, your digital license appears in your Wallet app and is protected by your phone's Face ID or passcode.

How to add a digital license on Android

Open Google Wallet on your Android phone. Tap the plus sign at the bottom, then select "ID." Choose "Driver's License" and select your state. If your state does not appear, digital licenses are not yet available there.

Take a photo of the front and back of your physical license using your phone's camera. The app will guide you through positioning and lighting. You will also be asked to take a selfie for identity verification. Like the iPhone process, this photo is used for verification only.

Enter your state ID number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Google Wallet will send this to your state's DMV for verification, which typically takes a few minutes to a few hours. Once your identity is confirmed, your digital license is added to Google Wallet and locked behind your phone's biometric security or PIN.

What information gets stored and how it is protected

Your digital license stores the same information as your physical card: your name, date of birth, address, license number, and expiration date. The photo on your license is also included. This information is encrypted on your phone, meaning it is scrambled in a way that only your phone and authorized readers can decode.

When someone scans your digital license, they see only the information they need — a police officer sees your license details, but not your Social Security number or the selfie you took during setup. Your phone requires you to unlock it with Face ID, Touch ID, or your PIN before the license can be scanned, adding another layer of security.

Your state's DMV does not store the selfie you took. It is used only to verify that you are the person on the license, then deleted. The DMV keeps a record that you have a digital license on file, but the actual encrypted license data lives on your phone, not on a government server.

When you can and cannot use your digital license

Digital licenses work best for age verification at bars, restaurants, and retail stores. Many businesses in states that support digital licenses have trained staff to scan them. Some police departments also accept digital licenses during traffic stops, though this varies by department and state — it is not yet universal.

You cannot use a digital license for air travel, even in states where digital licenses exist. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) still requires a physical ID at airport security. You also cannot use a digital license to renew your vehicle registration online in most states, or to board a cruise ship. Always carry your physical license when traveling.

If your phone dies, is lost, or is stolen, you cannot show your digital license. This is another reason to keep your physical license with you at all times. If your phone is stolen, you can remove your digital license from that device by logging into your Apple or Google account from another device.

What to do if your digital license is rejected

If a business or officer refuses to accept your digital license, do not argue about whether they should. Policies vary widely, and some places straightforward are not set up to scan digital IDs yet. Show your physical license instead. As digital licenses become more common, acceptance will expand, but that process is gradual.

If you believe a business is breaking your state's rules about digital license acceptance, you can contact your state's DMV or attorney general's office to report it. However, this is rarely necessary — most rejections are straightforward because the person is not trained to use the scanner or the business has not updated its policy yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to delete my digital license if I get a new physical license?

Yes. If your physical license is renewed, lost, or stolen, you should remove the old digital license from your phone and add the new one. Open Wallet or Google Wallet, find your license, and delete it. Then follow the setup process again with your new license. Your state's DMV can only have one active digital license per person.

What happens if I move to a state that does not support digital licenses?

Your digital license will still work on your phone, but you will not be able to add it to your wallet if you have not already done so. If you get a new license in the new state, you can set up a digital license there if that state supports it. You can keep the old digital license on your phone as a backup, but it will eventually expire along with the physical license.

Can someone steal my identity using my digital license?

It is harder than stealing a physical license. Your digital license is encrypted and requires your phone to be unlocked before it can be scanned. A thief would need both your phone and your biometric data or PIN. That said, never share a screenshot or photo of your digital license, as that removes the encryption protection.

Does adding a digital license cost money?

No. Adding a digital license to your phone is free. Your state does not charge a fee for this service, and Apple and Google do not charge either. If a website claims to charge you to add a digital license, it is a scam.