These are the first states adopting driver’s licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet

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Driver's licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet
Arizona and Georgia will be first, followed by six others.
Photo: Apple

Apple on Wednesday confirmed the first states that will adopt digital driver’s licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet. Residents of Arizona and Georgia will be able to take advantage of the feature first, with six other states to follow.

The Transportation Security Administration will enable select security checkpoints and lanes at participating airports as the first locations customers can use their driver’s license or state ID in Wallet, Apple added.

Apple has been working for years to replace your physical wallet. But it knows giving us the ability to store credit cards, loyalty cards, tickets and travel passes on iPhone is only half the battle. It needs to replace physical IDs, too.

That’s why Cupertino is now working with a number of states across the country to introduce digital driver’s licenses and ID cards that you can carry around on your iPhone and Apple Watch in iOS 15 and watchOS 8.

And now we know where they will appear first.

Driver’s licenses and IDs coming to Apple Wallet

“Arizona and Georgia will be the first states to introduce this new innovation to their residents, with Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah to follow,” Apple said in a press release Wednesday.

The feature promises to give users a convenient and more secure way to carry and present their ID cards. You don’t have to worry about leaving them behind or losing them because they’re always on your iPhone.

“The addition of driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet,” said Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay and Wallet.

“We are excited that the TSA and so many states are already on board to help bring this to life for travelers across the country using only their iPhone and Apple Watch, and we are already in discussions with many more states as we’re working to offer this nationwide in the future.”

A more seamless experience

TSA Administrator David Pekoske said the new Apple Wallet feature will enable “a more seamless airport security screening experience for travelers.” He also called it “a major milestone by TSA to provide an additional level of convenience for the traveler.”

When digital driver’s licenses and ID cards roll out where you live, you’ll be able to add them to Apple Wallet just like a credit card. You will then be able to present them by simply tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch at the identity reader, which will prompt you to display your ID information.

Driver’s licenses and ID cards are protected by Face ID or Touch ID, just like your other cards, so only you can authorize them to appear.

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