More than 20 states and Puerto Rico now let residents carry a digital driver’s license on a smartphone, either through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, or a dedicated state app.1Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs The states that allow a digital driver’s license each run their own program, so what you can download, which phone you need, and where the credential actually works all depend on where your license was issued.
The clearest signal that a state’s program is fully operational is a TSA waiver permitting the mobile driver’s license (mDL) at airport checkpoints and other federal agencies.2Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs) The groupings below sort the current programs by how you actually get the credential onto your phone.
States That Support Apple, Google, or Samsung Wallet
If you’d rather not install a separate app, several states let you add your license directly to the wallet app already on your phone. Arizona, Georgia, and Maryland support all three major platforms: Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet.1Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs
Iowa recently added Google Wallet support alongside its existing state app, giving residents two paths.3Iowa Department of Transportation. Your Iowa Driver’s License or ID – Now in Google Wallet Illinois offers its Mobile ID through Apple Wallet and is working on Android support for Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices.4Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Virginia launched its Mobile ID in November 2025, with acceptance at TSA checkpoints, Virginia State Police stops, and all Virginia DMV offices.5Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Virginia DMV Launches Mobile ID New York’s MiD program is free to any resident with a valid license and a compatible smartphone.6New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Mobile ID (MiD)
States That Use Their Own App
Other states issue digital credentials only through proprietary apps. Colorado’s digital ID lives exclusively inside the myColorado app, which also handles vehicle registrations, parks and wildlife licenses, and more than 20 other state services; it is not compatible with Apple, Google, or Samsung Wallet.7myColorado. Colorado Digital ID
Iowa publishes its own Mobile ID app in addition to its Google Wallet option.8Iowa Department of Transportation. Iowa Mobile ID App Louisiana was one of the earliest states to go digital, through the LA Wallet app. Mississippi offers the Mississippi Mobile ID app on the Apple App Store and Google Play.9Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Mississippi Mobile ID Arkansas has a free mobile ID app for residents with an unexpired license or state ID.10Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Mobile ID Kentucky launched its mobile ID with acceptance at TSA checkpoints and participating establishments statewide.11Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Kentucky’s First Digital ID Available Through Free App
Other States With TSA-Approved Programs
The remaining states with TSA-approved mobile driver’s licenses are Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.2Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs) Hawaii’s program is live, but residents using the mDL must still carry their physical card by law.12Hawaii Department of Transportation. Mobile Driver License Utah’s program is managed by its Driver License Division as an optional companion to the physical card.
States With Paused or Pilot Programs
Not every state that has tried a digital license still has one running. Florida pulled its Smart ID app from app stores in mid-2024 after its vendor contract ended and told existing users to delete the app. The state said a new version would be available by early 2025, but Florida does not currently appear on the TSA’s list of approved mobile driver’s licenses.1Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs
Missouri launched a Mobile ID app in partnership with IDEMIA, but the app expired in late September 2025, and the state is working on a replacement. California runs the largest program in the country through its CA DMV Wallet, labeled a pilot and currently capped at 4.2 million participants.13California DMV. CA DMV Wallet Despite the pilot designation, the California mDL has received TSA approval for airport use. Several other states are studying legislation or procuring technology but have not launched a public-facing product.
What You Need to Sign Up
Every state program requires a valid, unexpired physical driver’s license as the foundation. You can’t create a digital credential from scratch; it’s always a digital copy of a card you already hold. You’ll also need a compatible smartphone with biometric security enabled, such as Face ID, fingerprint recognition, or a secure passcode.
Device requirements vary. Virginia requires an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 16, or Android 8.0 or newer.14Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Virginia Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Illinois requires the latest version of iOS on an iPhone 8 or later.4Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Specifications shift as states update their apps, so check your state’s DMV website before you start. States using myColorado or the Iowa Mobile ID app will direct you to the Apple App Store or Google Play; states on Apple or Google Wallet let you add the credential from within the wallet app itself.
Setup generally involves scanning the front and back of your physical license, then completing a liveness check with a selfie or short series of facial movements. The app matches your face against the photo your motor vehicle department already has on file. Approval can take anywhere from a few minutes to several business days, and the credential is then stored behind your phone’s biometric lock.
Where a Digital Driver’s License Is Actually Accepted
Airports
Airport security is where digital IDs have the broadest reach. TSA accepts digital IDs from approved states at more than 250 airports through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, or a state-issued app.15Transportation Security Administration. Digital Identity and Facial Comparison Technology One catch: your mDL must be based on a REAL ID-compliant physical license. If the plastic card isn’t REAL ID-compliant, the digital version won’t be accepted at federal checkpoints either.2Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs) Other federal agencies vary, and TSA recommends contacting the specific agency before relying only on a digital credential.
Law Enforcement and Retail
Inside your home state, acceptance is growing. Colorado’s digital ID is accepted during traffic stops with state law enforcement, and Virginia State Police accept the Virginia Mobile ID.5Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Virginia DMV Launches Mobile ID Iowa recognizes its mobile ID products as an official form of identity verification anywhere a physical ID would normally be presented.3Iowa Department of Transportation. Your Iowa Driver’s License or ID – Now in Google Wallet Some retailers that sell age-restricted products accept digital IDs, but adoption is uneven.
Crossing State Lines
This is the biggest practical gap. No federal law requires one state to accept another state’s digital driver’s license. If you have a Georgia mDL and get pulled over in Tennessee, the officer has no obligation to accept it. TSA approval covers airports regardless of which state you’re in, but that doesn’t extend to traffic stops or retail purchases outside your home state. Until interstate reciprocity catches up, treat your digital ID as reliable only within your own state and at TSA checkpoints.
Keep the Physical Card
Almost every state with an active program explicitly tells residents to keep carrying the plastic card. Hawaii requires it by law.12Hawaii Department of Transportation. Mobile Driver License New York’s DMV warns that not all businesses accept MiD and directs residents to always bring the physical document.16New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Mobile ID (MiD) for License, Permit and ID Holders Iowa describes its mobile ID as a “companion” to the physical card, not a replacement.8Iowa Department of Transportation. Iowa Mobile ID App TSA encourages all mDL holders to carry a physical acceptable ID when traveling.2Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDLs)
The reason is practical. Not every business, government office, or law enforcement agency has the hardware or policy to read a digital credential. If a clerk or officer can’t process your mDL, failing to produce a physical license could mean a citation. Think of your digital license as a convenience layer on top of the card in your wallet, not a replacement for it.