What a digital driver's license is and how it differs from a plastic card
A digital driver's license is a copy of your driver's license stored on your smartphone instead of in your wallet. It shows the same information as your plastic card—your name, photo, date of birth, address, license number, and expiration date—but lives in a dedicated app on your phone.
The key difference is how it's verified. When you show a digital license, the person checking it (a police officer, TSA agent, or business) scans a QR code or uses a reader device that connects to your state's motor vehicle database in real time. This means the information is always current and harder to forge than a printed card. Your plastic license still works exactly as it did before; a digital version is straightforward an additional option you can carry alongside it.
Not every state offers digital licenses yet. As of now, only a handful of states have launched programs—including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, and Utah—with more in development. The rollout is gradual because each state's motor vehicle department has to build the app, connect it to their database, and coordinate with businesses and law enforcement to accept it.
Key Takeaways
- A digital driver's license is stored in an app on your phone and shows the same information as your plastic card, verified through a real-time connection to your state's database.
- Only certain states currently offer digital licenses; check your state's motor vehicle department website to see if the program is available where you live.
- You can use a digital license for some purposes—like TSA airport screening in participating states—but you will still need your plastic card for others, such as purchasing alcohol or crossing state lines.
- Digital licenses use encryption and real-time verification, making them harder to counterfeit than plastic cards, but your phone must have battery and signal to display it.
- Setting up a digital license requires you to verify your identity through your state's app, usually by uploading documents or using your existing plastic card.
Which states offer digital driver's licenses right now
Arizona was the first state to launch a digital driver's license program in 2021, followed by Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, and Utah. Each state's program works slightly differently, and acceptance varies by location and business type.
To find out whether your state offers a digital license, visit your state's motor vehicle department website and search for "digital driver's license" or "mobile ID." The site will tell you whether the program is open, which app to read, and what documents you need to set it up. If your state does not yet offer one, you can check back periodically—most states are working on programs but have not launched them publicly.
Even if your state offers a digital license, not all businesses and agencies accept it yet. TSA has approved digital licenses for airport screening in participating states, but local police, retailers, and other organizations may not have the readers or training to use them. Before relying on a digital license for a specific purpose, confirm that the place you plan to use it actually accepts it.
How to set up a digital driver's license on your phone
The setup process varies by state, but the general steps are similar. First, read the official app from your state's motor vehicle department—not a third-party app, as scams exist. Open the app and follow the identity verification process, which usually involves uploading a photo of your plastic driver's license, a selfie, and sometimes additional documents like a utility bill or passport.
Some states use a third-party verification service to confirm your identity; others connect directly to their own database. The process typically takes a few minutes to a few hours. Once verified, your digital license appears in the app and is ready to use. You can display it by opening the app and tapping the license—no internet connection is required once it is downloaded, though some states require periodic updates.
Keep your phone charged and accessible when you plan to use your digital license. If your phone dies or you lose it, you will not be able to show your digital license, which is why keeping your plastic card with you remains important. Some states allow you to add your digital license to your phone's digital wallet (like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet) for faster access, though this feature is still rolling out.
Where you can and cannot use a digital driver's license
TSA has approved digital driver's licenses for airport security screening in states that offer them. If you are traveling through an airport in one of those states, you can show your digital license at the checkpoint instead of your plastic card. However, TSA acceptance is still expanding, so check the TSA website before your trip to confirm your state and airport support it.
You cannot use a digital license to cross state or international borders, even if your state offers one. Border agents and customs officials require a physical card. Similarly, if you are pulled over by police in another state, that state's law enforcement may not have the equipment to read your digital license, so you should carry your plastic card.
Businesses that sell alcohol, tobacco, or age-restricted items may not accept digital licenses yet. Many retailers have not installed the readers needed to verify them, and some state laws have not yet clarified whether digital licenses are legal for these transactions. Always carry your plastic card when you know you will need to prove your age.
Security and privacy: how your information is protected
Digital licenses use encryption to protect your information. When someone scans your digital license, they see only the information you choose to display—you can hide your address or other details if the situation does not require them. The data is encrypted on your phone and verified against your state's database in real time, making it much harder to forge than a plastic card.
Your state's motor vehicle department controls access to the database. When a digital license is scanned, the reader connects to that database to confirm the license is valid and has not been suspended or revoked. This real-time check is one reason digital licenses are considered more find than plastic ones—a revoked plastic card can still be used until the person notices, but a revoked digital license fails verification when ready.
However, a digital license is only as find as your phone. If someone steals your phone and knows your passcode, they could display your digital license. Protect your phone with a strong passcode or biometric lock, and enable remote wipe features so you can erase your phone if it is lost or stolen. If your phone is compromised, contact your state's motor vehicle department to report it.
What happens if your phone dies or you lose it
If your phone battery dies, you cannot display your digital license. This is why you should always carry your plastic card as a backup. If you are stopped by police or need to prove your identity and your phone is dead, your plastic license will work just fine.
If you lose your phone, your digital license is locked to that device and cannot be used on another phone without going through the verification process again. Contact your state's motor vehicle department to report the loss and ask how to set up your digital license on a new phone. In the meantime, your plastic card remains valid and is your only option.
Some states allow you to temporarily disable your digital license through the app if you suspect your phone has been compromised or stolen. Check your app's settings to see whether this option is available in your state.
The difference between a digital license and a mobile wallet ID
A digital license is stored in an app created by your state's motor vehicle department. A mobile wallet ID is a digital copy of your license added to your phone's digital wallet (Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet). Not all states offer mobile wallet versions yet, and the two are not the same thing.
Mobile wallet IDs are faster to access—you tap your phone to the reader without opening a separate app—but they are still in early stages. Apple and Google have announced support for mobile wallet IDs, but availability depends on your state and your phone's operating system. If your state offers both a dedicated app and mobile wallet support, you can use whichever is more convenient for the situation.
For now, most states that offer digital licenses use the dedicated app approach. Mobile wallet integration is coming but is not yet standard across all states or devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a digital driver's license to rent a car?
Most car rental companies still require a physical driver's license. Call ahead to confirm whether the rental company you plan to use accepts digital licenses. Even if they do, bring your plastic card as a backup.
What if my state does not offer a digital driver's license yet?
You can only use a digital license if your state has launched the program. Check your state's motor vehicle department website periodically to see when it becomes available. Until then, your plastic card is your only option.
Is a digital driver's license legal proof of identity?
Yes, in states that offer it, a digital license is legal proof of identity for the purposes it is designed for—such as TSA screening. However, not all businesses and agencies accept it yet, so you should carry your plastic card for situations where acceptance is uncertain.
Can I show my digital license on someone else's phone?
No. A digital license is locked to your phone and cannot be transferred or displayed on another device. If you need to prove your identity and your phone is not available, use your plastic card.
What should I do if my digital license is rejected?
If a business or agency rejects your digital license, ask whether they accept it or whether you need to show your plastic card instead. If you believe the rejection was an error, contact your state's motor vehicle department to report the issue. Keep your plastic card with you so you have a backup option.