How to Add Your Driver's License to Apple Wallet

The basic steps to save your driver's license to Apple Wallet

To add your driver's license to Apple Wallet, open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the plus sign, select "Driver's License or State ID," and follow the on-screen prompts to photograph your license and take a selfie for verification. Apple will send your information to your state's DMV to confirm it matches their records. Once approved — which usually takes a few days to a week — your digital license appears in Wallet and you can present it at TSA checkpoints or to police officers who have compatible readers.

The process requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPad Pro with an M2 chip or later. If you have an older device, you cannot store your license in Wallet yet, though Apple has said the feature will expand to other models over time. You will also need a valid, unexpired driver's license or state ID issued by a participating state.

Key Takeaways

Your state's DMV must participate in Apple's digital ID program for you to save your license; not all states have launched this feature yet.
You need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPad Pro with M2 or later — older iPhones cannot store a digital license in Wallet.
The verification process involves photographing your physical license and taking a selfie, then waiting for your state DMV to confirm the information.
Once approved, you can show your digital license at TSA airport checkpoints and to law enforcement with compatible readers, but not all officers or locations accept it yet.

Which states currently support digital driver's licenses in Apple Wallet

As of early 2024, only a handful of states have launched digital driver's license support in Apple Wallet. Delaware, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, and Puerto Rico were the first to roll out the feature. Additional states including Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, and others have announced plans to launch but have not yet made the feature available to residents.

Before you start the process, check whether your state appears in the Wallet app. Open Wallet, tap the plus sign, and select "Driver's License or State ID" — the app will show you which states are currently supported. If your state is not listed, you cannot add your license yet, even if you have a compatible device. Your state's DMV controls the timeline for launch.

What happens during the verification process

When you begin adding your license, Apple asks you to photograph the front and back of your physical driver's license using your phone's camera. The app uses machine learning to read the information on the card and pre-fill fields like your name, date of birth, and license number. You then take a selfie, and Apple encrypts both the photos and the license data before sending them to your state's DMV.

Your state's DMV compares the information you submitted against their records to confirm that the license is valid and that you are the person requesting the digital version. This verification step is why the process takes several days to a week rather than being when ready. During this time, your license does not yet appear in Wallet. You will receive a notification when the DMV approves your request and your digital license becomes active.

If the DMV cannot verify your information — for example, if there is a mismatch between the photo you submitted and their records, or if your license is expired or suspended — the request will be denied. The app will tell you why and may offer you the chance to try again.

How to present your digital license at TSA and to law enforcement

Once your digital license is active in Wallet, you can show it at TSA checkpoints at participating airports. When you approach the TSA agent, open Wallet, tap your digital license, and hold your phone near the agent's reader device. The reader scans the encrypted information on your phone without storing it or sending it anywhere else. You do not need to unlock your phone or provide a PIN.

Law enforcement officers can also request to see your digital license if they have a compatible reader. The process is the same: open Wallet, select your license, and hold your phone near the officer's device. However, not all police departments have compatible readers yet, so you should still carry your physical license as a backup. If an officer does not have a reader or asks for your physical card, you are required to provide it.

Your digital license is encrypted and stored only on your phone. Apple and your state DMV cannot see when or where you present it, and the reader device does not store any information from your license after the scan is complete.

Security and privacy protections built into Apple Wallet

Apple Wallet uses encryption to protect your license information. Your digital license is stored in a find area of your phone called the find Enclave, which is separate from the rest of your device's storage. Even if someone steals your phone, they cannot access your license without unlocking the phone first.

When you present your license to a TSA agent or police officer, the reader device receives only the information necessary to verify your identity — not your full license data. For example, an age verification scan might show only your date of birth and whether you are over 21, not your address or license number. Apple calls this "selective disclosure," and it gives you more privacy than handing over your physical card.

If you lose your phone or it is stolen, you can remove your digital license from that device using Find My iPhone. Your license will no longer work on the lost phone, but it remains in your Apple account and you can add it to a new phone once you get one.

Troubleshooting common problems when adding your license

If the app rejects your photos of your license, make sure the card is well-lit, fully visible in the frame, and not bent or damaged. Glare from the camera flash can also cause the app to fail to read the information. Try taking the photos again in natural light or with the flash turned off.

If your state is not showing up in the Wallet app, your state's DMV has not yet launched digital license support. Check your state's DMV website or contact them directly to find out when the feature will be available. You cannot add your license until your state officially supports it.

If your verification is denied, the most common reason is that the information on your license does not match what the DMV has on file. This can happen if you recently moved and have not updated your address with the DMV, or if there is a typo in the DMV's records. Contact your state's DMV to correct any mismatches, then try adding your license again.

If you have a compatible device but the Wallet app does not show the option to add a driver's license, make sure you are running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Go to Settings, tap General, then Software Update to check for and install any available updates.

What to do if your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged

If your phone is lost or stolen, open Find My iPhone on another device or go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Select your phone from the list of devices and choose "Erase This Device." This will remove your digital license from the lost phone when ready, and it will no longer work even if someone else finds it.

Once you get a new phone, sign in with the same Apple ID and your digital license will appear in Wallet automatically. You do not need to go through the verification process again — the DMV has already confirmed your identity.

If your phone is damaged but still works, you can add your license to a new device while keeping it on the old one. Your license can be stored on multiple devices at the same time, as long as they are all signed in to the same Apple ID.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my digital license if I don't have my phone with me?

No. Your digital license exists only on your phone, so you must have the phone with you and it must be powered on to present your license. This is why you should continue to carry your physical license as a backup for situations where your phone is dead, lost, or not with you.

Will my digital license work at bars, restaurants, or other places that check ID?

Not yet. Digital licenses in Apple Wallet currently work only at TSA airport checkpoints and with law enforcement officers who have compatible readers. Bars, restaurants, and retail stores do not have the readers needed to scan your digital license, so you must show your physical card.

What information can TSA or police see when they scan my digital license?

The reader device receives only the information needed for that specific purpose. For age verification, it might see only your date of birth. For identity verification, it might see your name and license number. You cannot see exactly what information is being shared, but Apple designed the system to share as little as possible.

Can I add my license to Apple Wallet if my license is suspended or expired?

No. Your license must be valid and in good standing with your state's DMV. If your license is suspended, revoked, or expired, the DMV will deny your request to add it to Wallet. You must renew or resolve the suspension with your state's DMV first.

Do I need to do anything special to keep my digital license active?

No. Your digital license stays active as long as your physical license is valid. When you renew your physical license with your state's DMV, you will need to add the new license to Wallet separately — the old digital license will no longer work once your physical license expires.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.