What a digital driver's license is and where you can use it

A digital driver's license is a copy of your state-issued driver's license stored on your phone instead of in your wallet. You show it to a police officer or security guard by opening an app and displaying your phone screen. Right now, only a few states have rolled out digital licenses — Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Ohio have working programs, with more states testing or planning versions. Each state runs its own system, so a digital license from Arizona works differently than one from Colorado.

The main difference between a digital license and a physical one is how you present it. With a physical license, you hand over a card. With a digital license, you unlock your phone, open the state's app, and hold the screen toward the officer or security guard. The officer can see your photo, name, date of birth, and license number — the same information they would see on a card.

Digital licenses are not yet accepted everywhere. Police departments in your state may accept them, but out-of-state officers often cannot read them. Banks, bars, and other businesses may not accept them yet. You should keep your physical license with you until digital licenses become more widely accepted in your area.

Key Takeaways

  • Digital driver's licenses are available in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Ohio, with other states developing their own versions.
  • You store your digital license in a state-run app on your phone and show it by unlocking your phone and displaying the screen.
  • Digital licenses currently work best with local police and some TSA checkpoints, but many businesses and out-of-state officers do not yet accept them.
  • Your physical license remains the safest backup because digital licenses are not yet widely accepted everywhere you might need to prove your identity.

How to get a digital driver's license in your state

The process depends on which state you live in. In Arizona, you read the Arizona Mobile ID app, sign in with your existing driver's license number and personal information, and follow the prompts to add your license to the app. Colorado uses a similar process through the Colorado Digital ID app. Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Ohio each have their own apps with slightly different steps.

Most states require you to verify your identity before the app will show your digital license. This usually means answering security questions based on your personal history or confirming information from your driver's license record. Some states use facial recognition to match your face to the photo on file. The verification step typically takes a few minutes.

Once your digital license is set up, you can use it when ready. You do not have to wait for anything to arrive in the mail or visit a DMV office. If you lose your phone or uninstall the app, you can read it again and sign back in to restore your digital license.

What information shows on a digital license

A digital driver's license displays the same core information as a physical license: your photo, full name, date of birth, license number, address, and expiration date. Some states also show your height, eye color, and any restrictions (such as corrective lenses required). The officer or security guard sees this information on your phone screen, just as they would see it on a card.

The digital version does not show anything extra that is not already on your physical license. You control what is displayed — you unlock your phone and open the app yourself, so you decide when to show it. Unlike a physical card, you do not hand over your phone, which means the person checking your license cannot hold it or take it away.

Where digital licenses are currently accepted

Police officers in your state can check a digital license during a traffic stop, though not all departments have trained their officers yet. Some TSA checkpoints at airports accept digital licenses for domestic flights, but this varies by airport and is still expanding. A few states have begun accepting digital licenses at certain government offices, such as when renewing vehicle registration.

Most businesses — bars, banks, retailers, and restaurants — do not yet accept digital licenses. If you need to prove your age or identity to buy something or open an account, you should bring your physical license. The same applies if you travel out of state: officers in other states may not be able to read your digital license, so keeping your physical license is essential.

Acceptance is growing slowly. States are working with police departments, TSA, and businesses to make digital licenses more useful over time. For now, think of a digital license as a convenient option in situations where it is accepted, not a replacement for your physical license.

Security and privacy concerns with digital licenses

Your digital license is encrypted, which means the information is scrambled so that only the official app can read it. If someone steals your phone, they cannot straightforward open the app and see your license — they would need to unlock your phone first. Once your phone is unlocked, they could theoretically display your license, but they cannot change the information or create a fake one.

The state keeps a record of when and where your digital license is checked, similar to how a police officer writes down that they stopped you. This creates a digital trail that some people worry about, though the same trail exists with physical licenses. You can review your check history in most state apps to see when your license was scanned.

If you are concerned about privacy, you can straightforward keep using your physical license. Digital licenses are optional in every state that offers them — you do not have to use one. Your physical license remains valid and works everywhere a digital license does, plus many places where digital licenses are not yet accepted.

What happens if your phone dies or you lose it

If your phone battery dies during a traffic stop, tell the officer your phone is dead and show your physical license instead. Officers understand that phones run out of battery. You are not required to have a working phone to prove your identity while driving.

If you lose your phone, your digital license is not lost with it. Sign into the state's app on a new phone using your driver's license number and personal information, and your digital license will reappear. The old phone cannot display your license anymore because it is no longer signed in. You can also temporarily disable your digital license through the app if your phone is stolen, similar to freezing a credit card.

Until digital licenses become more widely accepted, losing your phone is not a major problem for driving purposes. Your physical license is still your primary form of ID, and it does not depend on your phone working.

States planning or testing digital licenses

Beyond the six states with active programs, many others are in development. California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Virginia have announced plans or are running pilot programs. These states are testing digital licenses with limited groups of people before rolling them out to everyone. The timeline varies — some states may launch within a year or two, while others are still in early planning stages.

If your state is not yet offering digital licenses, you can check your state's DMV website for updates. Most states publish announcements when they are ready to launch. You do not need to do anything now — when your state launches, you will be able to read the app and set up your digital license at that time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a digital license if I do not have a smartphone?

No, digital licenses require a smartphone with the state's app installed. If you do not have a smartphone, you will continue using your physical license. Physical licenses remain valid and are accepted everywhere, so you are not at a disadvantage.

Do I still need to carry my physical license if I have a digital one?

Yes, you should carry your physical license as a backup. Digital licenses are not yet accepted everywhere, and your phone could die or be lost. Your physical license works in all situations where a digital license does, plus many where digital licenses are not yet accepted.

What if an officer does not know how to check a digital license?

If an officer is unfamiliar with digital licenses, show your physical license instead. Not all officers have been trained on the new system yet. You can always fall back on your physical license without any penalty or problem.

Is a digital license as legal as a physical one?

Yes, in states where digital licenses are offered, they have the same legal status as physical licenses. An officer can check a digital license during a traffic stop just as they would check a physical one. However, acceptance varies by location and situation, so your physical license remains important.

Can someone else use my digital license if they have my phone?

They would need to unlock your phone first. Once your phone is unlocked, they could display your license, but they cannot change the information or use it to get a new license. If your phone is stolen, you can disable your digital license through the app to prevent this.