Illinois Embraces Digital Driver’s Licenses with iPhone Technology

Apple Wallet digital driver’s licenses are gaining momentum, with Illinois becoming the 13th state to adopt them, and two more states planning to follow suit in the near future.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced on Tuesday that residents of Illinois would be able to securely add their driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet starting the next day.

If you have been following the introduction of digital driver’s licenses in other states, the Illinois rollout should not come as a surprise. It is important to note that the digital ID in Apple Wallet is not a replacement for a physical ID, and residents are still required to carry their physical IDs for identity verification, especially while driving.

Similar to digital IDs in other states, as well as Apple’s nationwide passport-based Digital ID, the Apple Wallet version will be accepted at over 250 airports in the US, including Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway, and St. Louis’ Lambert airport.

Furthermore, Illinois plans to utilize the digital ID for age verification in restaurants and bars, following Ohio’s example from last year. Illinois is launching a free Mobile ID Check app that has been officially approved by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC), allowing businesses to verify age for restricted purchases like alcohol.

The app leverages a framework introduced by Apple in iOS 17 two years ago, enabling an authorized app to use any iPhone as a mobile ID reader. This eliminates the need for businesses to invest in expensive dedicated scanners, as they can utilize the state’s free app on any iPhone running iOS 17.6 or later.

Additionally, since mobile driver’s licenses adhere to an open standard, the Mobile ID Check apps in Illinois and Ohio should be compatible with any compliant digital ID. This means that out-of-state visitors should theoretically be able to present their digital driver’s licenses or passport-based Digital ID for age verification.

One of the advantages of using a digital ID for age verification instead of a physical card is that the business only receives the specific information required to confirm the customer’s identity and age. The individual presenting the ID can verify the information being requested before authorizing the request. For instance, a bar or restaurant does not need to know the customer’s home address or phone number to confirm their age.

While Illinois is initially launching these tools for iPhone users, Secretary of State Giannoulias mentioned that the Illinois Mobile ID will also be available in Google and Samsung Wallets in the near future.

13 States — and More to Come

Illinois has joined a list of states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico in supporting digital driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet. Arkansas and Virginia have also committed to adopting Apple Wallet, but they are taking different approaches to implementation.

Both states initially introduced their own mobile ID apps for iPhone and Android. Arkansas has shifted focus to native Android wallets, such as Google and Samsung, which already support digital IDs, while iPhone users still need to use the standalone app. Although Arkansas has confirmed Apple Wallet support is on the way, a specific launch date has not been provided.

Virginia recently launched its dedicated mobile ID app. State officials have promised integration with “digital wallets” in the coming months without providing specific details. However, they have confirmed that support for Apple Wallet and Google Wallet is in development. The official Virginia Mobile ID webpage only mentions Apple Wallet as a future partner, with no mention of Google or Samsung.