Technology giant Apple is showing no signs of slowing down in terms of releasing innovative applications to enrich and streamline users’ daily lives. One of its latest offerings involves adding your driver’s license or state-issued ID to your Apple Wallet function on one’s iPhone or Apple Watch, and the program is expanding to include more states.
The benefit of this option is no longer having to carry an identity card if you have your phone with you. This form of digital ID will be accepted by select airports and businesses and in some apps, and the convenience of the contactless system is expected to see it being widely adopted in all states where it’s available.
Which states currently accept the Apple driver’s license or state ID option?
Nine states are already online with the iPhone driver’s license program. In addition to the contiguous United States, the option is also available in Puerto Rico. These are the states that are moving with the times where people are already benefiting from the convenience of the Apple Wallet ID system:
- Arizona
- California
- Colarado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Maryland
- New Mexico
- Ohio
Which states is the Apple Wallet ID option expanding to in the future?
Apple has revealed that these states will be adopting the feature in the coming months:
- Connecticut
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Oklahoma
- Utah
- West Virginia
There’s no information available yet about when the Apple Wallet ID program will be rolled out in these new states, but the details are likely to be announced by the relevant roads authorities in due course.
Which airports are already accepting the new form of ID via your iPhone?
It’s been confirmed that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will accept identification via your Apple Wallet at these 16 United States airport checkpoints:
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
- Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
- Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
What else do travelers using airport facilities need to know?
Apple has invited people traveling by air to refer to TSA checkpoint signage to confirm availability of the contactless ID feature. The TSA’s website also has more information, and it’s important to make sure you don’t encounter problems when you attempt to use this form of identity or proof of age where it’s not accepted.
Apple also announced in 2024 that users will soon be able to use Apple Wallet ID for CLEAR member registration at airports, another feature designed to simplify and streamline users’ lives.
More important news about changes in driver’s license identification for one state
Drivers in New York saw changes to their licenses in 2025. The Department of Motor Vehicles has reminded New Yorkers that they are required to upgrade their license or identification cards to REAL IDs before the deadline, which isn’t optional.
The deadline for New York residents to apply for their REAL ID or enhanced ID is just a few months away. This date was extended two years ago from May 3, 2023, and the confirmed final date is now May 7, 2025.
Residents of the state don’t have a choice whether they want to move to the new form of ID or driver’s license, and there are repercussions if they don’t. This upgraded form of identification will be required to fly domestically and to enter federal buildings or military bases.