Apple Wallet is expanding support for mobile driver’s licenses (mDL) to more states in the U.S.
At present, residents in 15 states and territories can use a digital driver’s license or state ID in Apple Wallet. Arizona was the first state on board; Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, California, Iowa, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, Illinois, Arkansas and Puerto Rico followed.
According to reports from Appleosophy and Engadget, Kentucky has that its Idemia-supported mobile ID is coming to Apple Wallet as soon as this summer, and North Carolina has committed to a December 2026 launch for an mDL in its state NC Wallet and “expects to expand support to Apple Wallet, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet early next year.”
Several other states are also moving toward mDLs, in what amounts to a slow-motion rollout of the technology across the country. Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia are reportedly all working on rollout schemes, and both Connecticut and Mississippi have been attached to potential programs.
Bunch of states still in exploratory mode
A slew of other states are working on joining the mDL club, whether through legislation, pilot programs or government studies. Indiana, Vermont, New Jersey, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Nevada and Wyoming are all exploring the possibility of digital driver’s licenses. Others are sure to follow. (Although maybe not Texas.)
At this point, it looks likely that Apple will end up supporting most states’ mDLs. The pertinent question is how long it will take. Tech loves to move fast – but tech tied to the administrative ecosystem of the U.S. motor vehicle bureaucracy carries the albatross of fragmentation, red tape and the spiritual slowness of a DMV office with a perpetual hour-long lineup.
Mobile driver’s licenses may be critical tech in the societal shift toward digital ID. But they are in no danger of breaking any speed limits, and complete coverage now looks like a goal for 2030. Nonetheless, slow and steady has been known to win the race in the end.
Article Topics
Apple Wallet | digital ID | driver’s license | United States
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