Apple Wallet driver’s license is being introduced in another US state
Starting today, Virginia residents can add a digital version of their driver’s license to the Apple Wallet app on their iPhone and Apple Watch. The digital ID can be used as proof of identity or age at TSA checkpoints at select airports, in certain stores, and in certain apps. However, the number of locations where it is accepted is still quite limited.
Virginia is the 15th US state to introduce support for Wallet IDs. Previously, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, and West Virginia had already offered this feature. It is also available in Puerto Rico and works with the Japanese My Number Card.
Apple Wallet driver’s license on the way to the next US states
Apple is preparing to roll out the feature in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Utah in the coming months, and announced years ago that Connecticut, Kentucky, and Mississippi had committed to introducing the feature at a later date.
To set up the feature, open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the plus sign in the upper right corner. Then tap “Driver’s License & ID,” select Virginia from the list, and follow the on-screen instructions. After that, you can show your digital ID anywhere it’s accepted without having to hand over your device.
You can present your Apple Wallet ID to an accepted reader by simply tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch. You can then view the information requested by the TSA or the company. The requested identity data will only be released from your device after authorization with Face ID or Touch ID.
As mentioned previously, you don’t need to unlock, show, or hand over your device to personally show your Apple Wallet ID. This ensures user privacy.
Apple Wallet IDs are generally not accepted by the police, so carrying physical identification during traffic stops remains legally required. Furthermore, the number of businesses that accept Apple Wallet IDs is still quite small. At least for now, Apple Wallet IDs are intended as a convenient alternative where they are accepted.
According to Apple, Wallet IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports in the US for domestic travel.
