Illinois motorists can securely add a digital driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, which enables them to present their ID using their iPhone or Apple Watch. The option was announced Tuesday and becomes available on Wednesday.
That makes the Prairie State the fourteenth U.S. state or territory to support Apple’s digital ID program.
Digital driver’s licenses for Illinois motorists
“This is a game changer for Illinois residents,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “Your ID can live right on your iPhone — ready to use at airports, restaurants and bars across the state. This launch brings together security, privacy and convenience in a way that will make life easier for millions of people. We promised innovative solutions, and today, we’re delivering.”
The digital identification enables Illinois residents to present their driver’s license or state ID in Apple Wallet in person, online and in apps at select businesses and organizations. So far, the most prominent use for the digital IDs issued by other states is at TSA checkpoints at over 250+ airports in the U.S. Illinois residents should be happy to learn that this includes O’Hare, Midway and Lambert.
“Driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet bring users one step closer towards replacing the physical wallet with an easy, secure and private digital wallet, and we’re thrilled to bring this to Illinoisans today,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “The launch of Illinois driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet makes everyday moments even more seamless — whether you’re traveling through airport checkpoints this holiday season, grabbing a drink at a restaurant, and more— all while keeping users’ information secure and private.”
Take note: this is not a replacement for a physical ID, and for now, Illinois residents must continue to carry their physical ID. That’s especially true when dealing with police.
The Illinois Mobile ID program is currently only for iPhone and Apple Watch users, but will soon expand to Google and Samsung Wallets.
Apple digital driver’s license program keeps growing
Illinois residents seeking to add their driver’s license or state-issued ID to Apple’s iPhone or Apple Watch should remember that it’s not possible until Wednesday. Starting on that day, read the Cult of Mac guide on how to add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet.
Those living elsewhere in the United States might check to see if they have a digital driver’s license option. As noted, they’re available from thirteen other states or territories:
- Arizona
- California (pilot program)
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Puerto Rico
- West Virginia
Alternatively, U.S. citizens can create a Digital ID using information from a passport, no matter what state they live in. This is especially useful for domestic air travel.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
