Big News: Some States in the U.S. Now Let You Use Digital Driver’s Licenses

The trend of going digital has reached official documents in the U.S., and driver's licenses are one of them. What this means is that you can now have your driver's license in your phone or smartwatch instead of carrying it around in your wallet.

This is super handy for verifying who you are at places like airports and shops without needing the actual plastic card.

California is one of the latest states to let people add their driver's licenses to the Apple Wallet on their iPhones. This move makes them one of the leaders in using this high-tech option, which started getting popular in 2021.

You're not limited to Apple products, as digital licenses can be used with Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet in some places as well.
 

A List of States Where You Can have a Digital License:

If you live in any of these places, you can keep your driver's license on your phone, but remember, there are times when you'll still need the real thing:
 

• Arizona: Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
• California: California DMV Wallet, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet
• Colorado: Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
• Georgia: Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
• Hawaii: Apple Wallet
• Iowa: Iowa Mobile ID app, Apple Wallet, Samsung Wallet
• Louisiana: LA Wallet
• Maryland: Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
• New Mexico: Apple Wallet, Google Wallet
• New York: NY MiD App
• Ohio: Apple Wallet
• Puerto Rico: Apple Wallet
• Utah: GET Mobile App
• Virginia: Virginia Mobile App
• West Virginia: WV MiD App

California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, mentioned that this cool feature turns phones into an even more useful tool, especially since we use them for so many things every day.
 

What's Great and Not-So-Great About Digital IDs:

The plus side of digital IDs is they make it super easy to show who you are without carrying around your license—helpful in places like security lines or stores. The downside is that they can't completely take the place of a physical ID yet.

Not every place takes the digital kind, and this is especially true if you go out of the U.S., where they might not have what's needed to check these digital IDs.

As things change with technology, expect to see digital IDs pop up in more and more places. States like Montana, West Virginia, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah are already planning to introduce digital driver's licenses pretty soon.

In conclusion, digital IDs are on the rise. With more and more tech supporting them, the day when digital IDs are the normal way to show who you are might not be too far off.

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