{"id":10471,"date":"2025-07-14T15:50:54","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T19:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecoportal.net\/en\/?p=10471"},"modified":"2026-07-01T13:23:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:23:08","slug":"driving-license-major-change-16-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ecoportal.net\/en\/driving-license-major-change-16-states\/10471\/","title":{"rendered":"16 states now let you carry your driver’s license on your phone instead of your wallet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Driving licenses have been<\/a> standard U.S. credentials<\/strong> for over a century, yet the physical card remains a relic in a fast-moving, mobile-first world. As smartphones claim more daily functions, identity verification still often lags: you’d think proving who you are would be as simple as tapping your phone, but the legal infrastructure hasn’t quite caught up. On the other hand, this is about to change as 15 states and Puerto Rico received the green light to switch from the traditional paper and plastic to the digital version.<\/span><\/p>\n

Driving license one click away?<\/h2>\n

That gap is closing fast. Over the past few years, a wave of digital ID programs\u2014from Real ID mandates to state-backed mobile apps\u2014has paved the way for a more virtual future. Tech companies and governments have already tested systems in a dozen or more states, but rollouts have been cautious, folded into pilots and limited trials.<\/p>\n

That slow-but-steady rollout has built both momentum and skepticism. Consumers appreciate the convenience, yet questions around privacy, law enforcement access, and universal acceptance linger<\/strong>. Now, a shift is underway\u2014one that could tip digital IDs from novelty into norm, and nudge millions toward a license they carry silently in their pocket instead of their wallet.<\/p>\n

These states are going with a digital driving license<\/span><\/h2>\n

At least 15 U.S. states and Puerto Rico have begun rolling out digital driver’s licenses, giving residents the option to carry a valid ID on their smartphones or smartwatches. Using Apple Wallet, iPhone, and Apple Watch, users can now present a digital version of the driving license at select TSA checkpoints and participating businesses, Apple Support confirms.<\/a> The process is secured by Face ID or Touch ID, and the information is encrypted, though Apple says it doesn’t store where or when the ID is used.<\/p>\n

One of the major advantages of mobile ID is privacy. Instead of showing an entire license, users can verify specific information \u2014 like proving they’re over 21 to buy alcohol \u2014 without revealing their address or license number.<\/p>\n

Still, not all states are on board. Alabama, for example, doesn’t currently support mobile IDs and is urging residents to obtain a STAR ID before the federal deadline on May 7. California’s DMV has built a custom mobile ID system for residents, while Louisiana uses the LA Wallet app. New York has launched its NY MiD app, and neighboring New Jersey is weighing its options.<\/a><\/p>\n

States receiving the digital driving license<\/h2>\n