

Since states are generally responsible for issuing licenses and ID cards, whether or not you’ll have access and when will depend on where you live.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working to help create new standards for mobile driver’s licenses, known as ISO 18013-5 mDL, and TSA started testing DDL acceptance for PreCheck passengers at select trial airports.Īt a state level, many states have already begun rolling out digital driver’s licenses that are compatible with Apple Wallet. Keep in mind, however, that a DDL is not a replacement for your license or ID, but rather a supplement to it. Since you rarely leave home without your phone, with a DDL, you’ll be able to access your ID even if you leave your wallet or purse at home.

Scanning your Driver’s License on your phone. In the same way, a DDL grants you easy access to your license or ID on your device.Ī DDL isn’t just a digital copy or screenshot of your driver’s license the technology works with your state’s government to set up and verify your identity digitally through an app or your smartphone. That, along with the fact that major tech companies like Apple and Google (in Beta) are providing the ability to store your ID on your phone, means that the use of digital driver’s licenses is on the rise! What Is a Digital Driver’s License (DDL)?Ī digital driver’s license (which we’ll reference as a DDL moving forward) is a secure version of your physical driver’s license or ID card that can be stored on your cell phone.īoth iPhone and Android users can already store things like credit cards, plane tickets, hotel keys, and event tickets in digital wallets. While the actual technology has been around for years, it’s only recently that the federal government and states are beginning to take steps to implement these for everyday use. Well now, depending on what state you live in, you may be able to access your ID from your smartphone thanks to something called a digital driver’s license. No one wants to get to the airport only to realize you’ve left your driver’s license at home.
