US digital driver's license expansion

Major technology providers Apple and Google are expanding digital identification capabilities within their respective wallet applications in the United States.

In Virginia, residents can now add state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards to Apple Wallet. This digital ID can be used for identity and age verification at hundreds of businesses, Virginia DMV locations, and over 250 TSA security checkpoints nationwide, including Dulles, Richmond, and Norfolk international airports. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) noted that users can verify identity and age via iPhone or Apple Watch without handing over physical devices.

Google is also rolling out support for state IDs on Android via Google Wallet. Recent updates include support for Ohio, following previous rollouts in states such as Arizona, California, and Maryland. Digital IDs in Google Wallet can be used at TSA checkpoints via NFC terminals or QR codes, and some car rental services have begun accepting them. Users must undergo a verification process involving photos of their physical card and a short video.

Virginia’s adoption follows a growing trend where 13 states and Puerto Rico support digital driver's licenses and state IDs within the Apple Wallet ecosystem, a movement that began in Arizona in early 2022.