Mountaineers Go Digital: West Virginia Embraces Apple Wallet

West Virginia has officially launched support for mobile driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet, a year after Apple’s initial announcement. Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed the rollout, stating that the state has introduced support for driver’s licenses and state-issued IDs in Apple Wallet.

To add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, simply follow the guide provided by the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Open the Wallet app on your iPhone, tap the plus button in the top right corner, and select “Driver’s License and ID Cards.” West Virginia should appear alphabetically in the list, with no additional verification fee required for West Virginians to use a digital ID in Apple Wallet.

Apple has updated its Digital ID page to include West Virginia’s addition, bringing the total number of states and territories supporting digital driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet to 13, including Puerto Rico. West Virginia is the third state to join Apple Wallet this year, following Montana and North Dakota.

The trend of states embracing smartphone-based IDs signals a shift towards modernization. Since Apple introduced the feature in iOS 15.1 in September 2021, more states have adopted digital driver’s licenses. Although some states like Connecticut, Kentucky, and Oklahoma are yet to join, the momentum towards digital IDs is clear.

Digital driver’s licenses can be used for identity and age verification, with businesses and organizations gradually accepting them. While West Virginia currently limits the use of digital IDs to the airport, select businesses and apps also support them. Developers can create apps to read digital IDs from Apple Wallet, enhancing the usability of digital licenses.

Despite the progress, carrying a physical driver’s license or state ID is still necessary, as law enforcement agencies are not yet equipped to handle digital IDs. The TSA accepts digital IDs at select airports, simplifying the verification process. Each new state embracing digital IDs brings us closer to a future where the iPhone could replace traditional physical IDs.