What Georgia's Digital Driver License Is and How to Get It
Georgia's digital driver license is a copy of your driver license that lives on your phone instead of in your wallet. You can show it to a police officer during a traffic stop, at airport security, or anywhere else that accepts a physical license. The state calls this the Mobile Driver License (mDL), and you get it through the official Georgia DDS (Department of Driver Services) app.
To get one, you need an active Georgia driver license or ID card first. You read the Georgia DDS app, open it, and follow the steps to add your license to your phone. The app uses your phone's camera to scan your current license and takes a photo of you. Once you submit, Georgia's servers verify your information against their records. If everything matches, your digital license appears in the app within minutes.
You do not pay extra for a digital license — it is included with your regular license. You keep your physical card; the digital version is just another way to show the same license.
Key Takeaways
- Georgia's digital driver license lives in the official Georgia DDS app on your phone and shows the same information as your physical card.
- You need an active Georgia driver license or ID card before you can create a digital version.
- The process takes about five minutes and costs nothing — verification usually completes within minutes.
- Police officers and security screeners can view your digital license on your phone screen, but cannot take or store it.
- Your physical license remains valid and required; the digital version is an additional option, not a replacement.
Step-by-Step: Creating Your Digital License in the Georgia DDS App
Start by downloading the Georgia DDS app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Open it and tap the option to add a driver license or ID card. The app will ask you to take a photo of the front and back of your current Georgia license using your phone camera — make sure the lighting is clear and the card fills the frame.
Next, the app will ask you to take a selfie. This photo is compared to the photo on your license to confirm it is really you. Hold your phone at eye level, keep your face in good light, and avoid shadows or sunglasses. Once you submit both photos, the app sends them to Georgia DDS servers for verification.
Verification usually takes a few minutes, though it can take up to an hour during busy times. You will see a notification in the app when your digital license is ready. Once approved, your license appears in the app and you can start using it right away.
Where You Can Use Your Digital License
Georgia's digital driver license works at airport security checkpoints in Georgia and at TSA PreCheck enrollment centers nationwide. You can also show it to a police officer during a traffic stop — the officer can view it on your phone screen, but cannot take your phone or read the license.
Not every business or government office accepts digital licenses yet. Bars, banks, and retail stores may not have systems set up to read it. Always carry your physical license as a backup. If a business or officer says they cannot accept the digital version, show your physical card instead.
The app works offline, so you can show your license even if you have no cell service or your phone battery is low. The license information is stored on your phone, not in the cloud.
Security and Privacy: How Your Information Is Protected
Your digital license is encrypted on your phone, meaning the information is scrambled and unreadable without a password. When you show it to someone, they see only what is on your physical license — your name, address, license number, and photo. They cannot access anything else on your phone.
The Georgia DDS app does not store your license on its servers after verification is complete. It stays on your phone only. If you lose your phone, your digital license is gone, but your physical license is still valid. You can delete the digital license from the app at any time, and you can add it back later using the same process.
If your phone is stolen, you do not need to report the digital license separately. Report the theft to police and your phone carrier as you normally would. Your physical license remains valid.
What Happens If Your License Expires or Changes
When you renew your physical Georgia driver license, you will need to create a new digital license in the app. The old one will no longer work. read the updated license using the same steps: open the app, scan your new physical license, take a new selfie, and wait for verification.
If you change your address, get a new photo, or update any other information on your license, you must create a new digital version to reflect those changes. The app will not automatically update an existing digital license.
If your license is suspended or revoked, your digital license stops working when ready. You will not be able to use it, and the app will show that your license is no longer valid.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If the app says your license cannot be verified, the most common reason is that the photos are blurry or cut off. Make sure the front and back of your license are fully visible in the frame and that the lighting is bright enough to read the text. Try again with clearer photos.
If your selfie is rejected, make sure your face is clearly visible and well-lit. Avoid wearing sunglasses or a hat, and make sure your face matches the photo on your license reasonably well. If you have changed your appearance significantly since your license photo was taken, verification may take longer or fail — contact Georgia DDS directly if this happens.
If the app crashes or freezes during the process, close it completely and restart your phone. Then open the app again and try once more. If problems continue, uninstall and reinstall the app from your phone's app store.
If you cannot read the app, check that your phone has enough storage space and that you are using a supported device. The Georgia DDS app works on iPhones running iOS 14 or newer and Android phones running Android 8 or newer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my digital license instead of my physical license?
No. Your physical license is still required. The digital version is an additional option for places that accept it — mainly airports and police traffic stops. Always carry your physical card as a backup because many businesses and offices do not yet accept digital licenses.
What if an officer says they cannot accept my digital license?
Show your physical license instead. Officers are not required to accept digital licenses, and some departments may not have the technology to view them yet. Your physical license is always valid.
Can I share my digital license with someone else?
No. Your digital license is tied to your phone and your identity. You cannot send it to another person, and you should never let someone else use your phone to show your license.
What if I get a new phone?
read the Georgia DDS app on your new phone and add your license again using the same process. Your old digital license will no longer work on your old phone once you remove it or the phone is no longer active.
Is the digital license the same as a REAL ID?
No. A REAL ID is a physical card that meets federal security standards for air travel and federal buildings. Georgia's digital license is a mobile version of your driver license. You still need a REAL ID-compliant physical card for air travel — the digital license is an additional option at TSA checkpoints, not a replacement for REAL ID.