iPhone Driver's License Support Expands to More Californians

iPhone users in California can now add their digital driver's licenses and IDs in the Apple Wallet app on ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch, with California expanding an ongoing test of the digital license feature.

apple california drivers license
Several MacRumors readers have reported seeing the California license as an option in the Wallet app, under the label "California mDL Pilot." Prior to now, only a limited number of people were seeing the option.

Wallet app integration is part of California's mobile driver's license effort, which kicked off a year ago. More than 500,000 people have already added a driver's license or ID to the California DMV Wallet app, where California tested the option before starting to roll it out to the Wallet app.

Apple announced California's Wallet license plans back in August, and said that it was working with California to bring IDs to Apple Wallet.

"We're excited to be working with the state of California to bring IDs in Apple Wallet to Apple's home state soon, and provide residents with an easy, secure, and private way to present their California driver's license and state ID in person and in app using Apple Wallet," said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. "Whether using IDs in Apple Wallet to breeze through travel, or to securely verify age or identity at businesses, California driver's licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet make ID presentment seamless - all with the security built into iPhone and Apple Watch."

IDs and licenses stored in the Wallet app on ‌iPhone‌ or iPad can be used for TSA screenings at select airports (including SFO, LAX, and SJC) and for age verification at select stores. Right now, California's mobile wallet support is still in an early stage, and only 1.5 million participants are able to sign up.


California requires people to continue to carry a physical license or ID card because the digital license is not accepted by law enforcement, state government agencies, and most businesses.

Apple announced a new Wallet app that supported digital IDs back in 2022, but states have been slow to adopt the feature. So far, only Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Hawaii, and Ohio have implemented support. Apple said in 2022 that Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Utah are working on support, and today added that Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia also plan to adopt the functionality.

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Top Rated Comments

gtmead09 Avatar
25 weeks ago
My state will be 51st out of 50 states........
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Amazing Iceman Avatar
25 weeks ago
Good for you guys in California. In the meantime, Florida is playing with some dumb alternative because Tallahassee wants to be different and decided not to adopt it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JohnC1959 Avatar
25 weeks ago
I have the AZ digital license, but I still need to carry the physical one so no real advantage. But maybe some day....
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kinless Avatar
25 weeks ago
Cool, thanks for letting me know! Just went through the process to get mine uploaded.

EDIT: Aaaand... it just came back rejected lol. Guess their system isn't quite ready yet?

EDIT #2: Second attempt seemed to work, but then got an email saying they needed more verification to scan on DMV's website like Passport ID, etc. which I don't have with me right now so will have to wait. What a pain in the @$$.

EDIT #3 the next day: Had to request a new link but uploaded my passport ID photo / info and was almost immediately accepted. CA ID is now in Wallet. Thought the image would be a little more exciting but it's just full name with a boring beige/blue gradient. Maybe they'll update that later.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ethanwa79 Avatar
25 weeks ago
This is great news because the population of the state is so large, so hopefully this will be the push digital ID’s need to start getting more mass adoption. Hoping more states follow suit soon.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
california_kid Avatar
25 weeks ago
Tried to add, when thru scan and a strange sequence of taking photos of my face, eyes closed, turning my head, opening my mouth (yes WTF is that for?) then said processing. Then told can't do it right now.

All this to try to add to my Apple Wallet instead of using mDL app which already has my digital drivers license.

On the later, I tried using it at a local restaurant that gives 10% discount if you show a local driver's license. They wouldn't accept mDL stating "I have no idea what that is".

Update - Got an email from the DMV saying verification failed try again. What, didn't open my mouth wide enough?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)