Twenty-one U.S. states and territories currently issue a mobile driver’s license, letting residents store a digital version of their ID on a smartphone through either a state-issued app or a commercial wallet like Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet. The list changes often, acceptance varies widely outside of TSA checkpoints, and no state treats the digital credential as a replacement for the plastic card in your pocket.
Which States Have a Mobile Driver’s License
As of 2025, TSA lists the following 21 jurisdictions as participants in its digital ID program, along with the platforms each one supports:1Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs
- Alaska — Alaska Mobile ID
- Arkansas — Arkansas Mobile ID, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
- Arizona — Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
- California — CA DMV Wallet app, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet
- Colorado — Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
- Georgia — Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
- Hawaii — Apple Wallet
- Illinois — Apple Wallet
- Iowa — Iowa Mobile ID app, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
- Kentucky — KY Mobile ID
- Louisiana — LA Wallet
- Maryland — Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
- Montana — Apple Wallet, Google Wallet
- New Mexico — Apple Wallet, Google Wallet
- New York — NY MiD app
- North Dakota — Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet
- Ohio — Apple Wallet
- Puerto Rico — PR Móvil, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet
- Utah — GET Mobile app
- Virginia — VA MiD app
- West Virginia — WV MiD app, Apple Wallet, Samsung Wallet
New jurisdictions join regularly, and states that launched with a single option often add wallet integrations later. Check your state DMV’s website for the current status before relying on any list.
Wallet Apps or a State App
Two paths lead to a working mDL. The first is a commercial wallet built into your phone’s operating system. Apple Wallet supports mDLs in 14 of the participating states and territories.2Apple. ID in Wallet Google Wallet covers 11, and Samsung Wallet covers eight.1Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs These credentials sit inside the phone’s secure hardware element, a dedicated chip that isolates sensitive data from the rest of the operating system.
The second path is a standalone state app. Louisiana’s LA Wallet, launched in 2018, was among the first widely adopted programs. New York, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Alaska all run their own branded apps. Some states offer both routes. Iowa, for example, publishes its own free Mobile ID app and also supports all three major commercial wallets.3Iowa Department of Transportation. Iowa Mobile ID App
The practical difference shows up at the reader. Wallet credentials often work with a tap or proximity scan at compatible terminals, while standalone apps typically require displaying a QR code or a verification screen. If your state supports a wallet you already use, that route usually involves fewer steps.
Pilot Programs and Enrollment Caps
Being on the participating list does not always mean enrollment is open to every resident. California’s DMV Wallet is a pilot capped at 4.2 million participants; once the cap fills, additional applicants may need to wait for expansion.4California DMV. CA DMV Wallet New York’s MiD has moved past the pilot stage and has enrolled more than 245,000 residents.5Office of the Governor of New York. Governor Hochul Marks 1-Year Anniversary Since Launch of New York Mobile ID Illinois currently supports mDLs only through Apple Wallet, with no state app yet available.6Illinois Secretary of State. ID in Apple Wallet Virginia offers a free standalone app on both the App Store and Google Play.7Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Virginia Mobile ID Utah’s program is run by its Driver License Division and delivers an officially signed copy of your license to your device.8Utah Driver License Division. Mobile Driver License
Using a Mobile Driver’s License at TSA
TSA accepts mDLs at more than 250 airports. At a participating checkpoint, you scan a QR code or tap your phone on a digital ID reader. A camera then takes your photo and compares it to the image tied to your credential. TSA deletes the photo after verification, and the images are not shared with law enforcement or other agencies.9Transportation Security Administration. Digital Identity and Facial Comparison Technology You never hand your phone to the officer, and the reader pulls only the data elements it needs from the encrypted credential.
One condition is easy to miss. Your mDL only works at TSA if the underlying physical license or ID is REAL ID-compliant.1Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs REAL ID enforcement for domestic air travel began on May 7, 2025.10Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID If the physical card behind your digital credential is not REAL ID-compliant, the mDL will not get you through the checkpoint either.
The REAL ID Modernization Act amended the federal definitions of “driver’s license” and “identification card” to include mDLs, but only those issued in accordance with regulations the Secretary of Homeland Security prescribes.11Federal Register. Minimum Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Acceptable by Federal Agencies for Official Purposes Those mDL-specific regulations have not been finalized, so TSA acceptance at airports is not the same as universal federal acceptance. Before showing an mDL at a federal building or other government facility, confirm with that agency first.12Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Mobile Drivers Licenses mDLs
Acceptance at Traffic Stops and Businesses
Outside of airports, acceptance is far less predictable. New York’s DMV states plainly that “not all law enforcement agencies accept MiD at this time” and tells residents to keep the physical license on hand.13New York DMV. Mobile ID MiD for License Permit and ID Holders Georgia has passed legislation allowing law enforcement to accept digital IDs; state agencies there will be required to accept them starting July 1, 2027.
For age-restricted purchases, the technical standard behind mDLs (ISO 18013-5) supports selective disclosure. A retailer verifying that you are over 21 can receive a simple confirmation without ever seeing your date of birth, address, or full name. The standard also caps verifiers at two age-threshold checks per transaction, so they cannot narrow down your exact age by asking a series of questions. That said, no law compels a private business to accept a digital ID, and many bars, liquor stores, and retailers still insist on plastic.
Setting Up a Mobile Driver’s License
The enrollment flow is broadly similar across states. You need a valid, unexpired physical driver’s license or state ID, usually one that is already REAL ID-compliant (look for the gold star in the upper corner). Your phone needs to be reasonably current. Iowa’s app, for instance, requires Android 7 or newer, or iOS 13 or newer.3Iowa Department of Transportation. Iowa Mobile ID App Phones made in the last five years generally qualify.
The typical steps:
- Download your state’s authorized app, or add your ID through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet if your state supports the wallet route.
- Scan the front and back of your physical card with your phone’s camera. Good lighting matters; glare is the most common cause of failed scans.
- Complete a liveness check. The app will ask for a selfie or a short video, sometimes prompting you to blink or turn your head, and match your face against the DMV’s photo on file.
- Wait for verification. Some states approve almost instantly, others take longer while DMV staff review the submission.
Many programs are free. Iowa and Virginia charge nothing for their standalone apps, and California’s pilot is offered at no cost.7Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Virginia Mobile ID4California DMV. CA DMV Wallet A few states charge a small fee, so check your DMV before enrolling.
If Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen
An mDL is protected by your phone’s biometric lock, so someone who picks up your device cannot simply open the app and impersonate you. If the phone is gone, use your platform’s remote wipe tool. Erasing an iPhone through iCloud or the Find My app removes all cards and passes from Apple Wallet, including your driver’s license.14Apple. Remove Your ID Cards From Apple Wallet Android and Samsung devices offer similar options through their respective accounts.
You should also report the loss to your state’s issuing authority. New York notes that an mDL can exist on only one device at a time; downloading the app on a new phone automatically deactivates it on the old one.13New York DMV. Mobile ID MiD for License Permit and ID Holders Most state programs work this way, which limits your exposure even if you cannot wipe the missing device immediately.
Keep Carrying the Physical Card
Every participating state treats the mDL as a companion to the plastic license, not a substitute. New York’s DMV puts it directly: “Do Not Get Rid of Your Physical Document!”13New York DMV. Mobile ID MiD for License Permit and ID Holders TSA strongly encourages all mDL holders to travel with a physical REAL ID card as well.12Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Mobile Drivers Licenses mDLs
The reasons are practical. Batteries die. Readers malfunction. Not every business or police department accepts a digital credential. Cross-state acceptance is uneven; New York says its MiD can be used “anywhere it is accepted including in other states,” while reminding residents that acceptance is not universal.13New York DMV. Mobile ID MiD for License Permit and ID Holders Treat your mobile driver’s license as a convenient second option and keep the physical card in your wallet.